Toronto, ON — Canada’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Availability Standard, legislated by the federal government in 2023, has significant potential to mitigate climate change and improve air quality and health. Despite the significant benefits for people living in Canada, recent reports reveal that automotive sector lobbyists are pressuring Prime Minister Mark Carney to cancel the regulation.
Analysis by The Atmospheric Fund in 2023 indicated that the EV Availability Standard would result in over $90 billion in health benefits for Canadians over the next 25 years, including up to 11,000 avoided premature deaths. A 2024 University of Toronto study, using data from the U.S., came to similar conclusions, citing 19,800 U.S. deaths in 2017 due to vehicle-related pollutants.
Criteria air contaminants from gas-powered vehicles are associated with adverse health effects such as premature mortality, increased hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases.
In addition to the health benefits, the cumulative carbon reduction impacts of the EV Availability Standard are estimated at 362 megatonnes, which would deliver significant progress toward federal climate targets. With no new policies, the government’s current plan falls short of reaching 2030 and 2050 targets. Rolling back the EV Availability Standard would put Canada further behind.
While EV demand showed a significant decline in the first quarter of this year, the change can largely be attributed to the sudden removal of incentives nationally and in Quebec, which typically accounts for over half of national EV purchases. EV sales increased in most provinces, including Ontario. Overall, the long-term and global trend is toward a rapid increase in EV sales.
To address concerns from automakers, the EV Availability Standard includes multiple measures that provide flexibility and reduce pressure in this difficult market. For example, automakers can bank credits for EVs or PHEVs sold prior to the policy taking effect, and they have a three-year grace period to catch up if they fall behind on targets, with no penalties.
Quotes
- “Canada shouldn’t backtrack on our climate commitments just because of President Trump’s regressive actions. The government should hold the line on regulations that protect the health of our people and climate. With renewed incentives and supportive policies, there is plenty of flexibility in the ways automakers can meet these targets.” — Evan Wiseman, Sr Manager, Climate Policy, The Atmospheric Fund.
- “To protect the lung health of Canadians, these regulations are a vital move in curbing the immense impact of traffic-related air pollution. We must not undo the progress that has been set in place.” — Sarah Butson, CEO, the Canadian Lung Association.
- “Traffic related air pollution exposure is linked with a myriad of illnesses across the life course, affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems. The health harms of exposure to transportation-related air pollution are not borne equally. Tackling emissions from gas-powered vehicles will result in tremendous health benefits and uphold people’s right to a healthy environment.” — Robb Barnes, Climate Program Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
Additional endorsement for the EV Availability Standard came from Asthma Canada, Canadian Public Health Association, and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
Notes to Editors
The EV Availability Standard was formerly known as the Zero Emissions Vehicle sales targets. Analysis of this regulation uses Health Canada’s benefits per tonne (BPTs) metrics to monetize the criteria air contaminant health impacts (see Health Benefits Per Tonne of Air Pollutant Emissions Reduction, Health Canada). Health Canada limits the use of these BPTs to estimate the benefits of reducing air pollution across two mega regions: southwestern British Columbia (SWBC) and the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor (WQCC) (see Air Quality, Public Health Ontario). These BPTs and a series of criteria air contaminant emission factors are then applied to the estimated annual gasoline fuel savings associated with new EV passenger automobile and light truck sales (see also Air pollution: drivers and impacts, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health benefits of US light-duty vehicle electrification: University of Toronto)
Media Contact
Julie Leach, Senior Manager, Campaigns and Communications
Jleach@taf.ca | 416-393-6382
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