Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government wants to mandate that at least 20% of new cars sold in Canada by 2026 to have zero emissions as part of the country’s plan to meet its 2030 emissions-reduction goal.
To meet the Liberal government’s ambitious new EV sales mandates, the dollar value of an existing federal incentive for consumers who purchase electric vehicles will need to triple, according to Canadian automakers.
The government stated in its sweeping new emissions reduction plan, which was tabled last week in the House of Commons, that 20% of all new light vehicles sold in Canada will be zero-emission by 2026, and 60% by 2030. The government has previously said it aims to hit 100 per cent in that category by 2035.
“We’re laying down a clear, reasonable contribution for the (oil and gas) sector to make, so we can drive work forward on our commitment to cap and cut emissions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a conference in Vancouver, B.C.
“With record profits, this is the moment for the oil and gas sector to invest in the sustainable future that will be good for business, good for communities, and good for our future,” he said.
“If there’s any oil and gas sector in the world that can do it, it’s Canada. And if there’s any workforce in the world that can drive this shift, it’s Canadians.
“This plan is the best we’ve ever gotten, and it’s nowhere near enough,” said Tzeporah Berman, international program director for the environmental advocacy group “Stand.earth.”
While a 42 per cent decrease in emissions is significant, Berman believes the oil and gas industry will need to cut carbon even further for Canada to reach its 2030 targets.
“That may mean they can’t do it through existing technology, and they actually will have to reduce (oil and gas) production to meet their emissions reduction goals. That’s a difficult thing,” she said.
“What we have done is set some ambitious targets, and we’re going to sit down with the sector and work with them to ensure that we actually do have a plan and a pathway to achieving them,” Wilkinson said in a telephone interview.
So far, Canada has missed every emissions reduction goal it has set according to Toronto Sun
