Evidence of meeting #13 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vehicles.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Leif-Erik Aune
We're webcast. I don't know why it says that. We're public.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In the federal government's latest budget, which I read on Tuesday, there is nothing about the incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles that Ms. Joly and Ms. Freeland had promised back in the day.
Do you think it's a good idea not to have rebates on the purchase of electric vehicles? Is this a policy that should be brought back in addition to the legislation on zero-emission vehicles?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
We expect to hear about the update in the coming weeks.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Yes, but not all announcements are made in the budget.
When we get news about the update of the federal zero-emission vehicle strategy, I expect there will be some information about it. It's too early to tell, but we are certainly advocating for that.
To be perfectly honest, we've been talking for about 15 years about the need for a reward-penalty system to encourage the purchase of greener vehicles and discourage the purchase of more polluting vehicles.
That is exactly what the Conservative Party did in 2007, under Stephen Harper's government. It was a great policy, and we encourage the government to bring it back.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
In your opinion, then, such a measure complements and goes hand in hand with a zero-emissions policy. Is that correct?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Yes, exactly.
Whether for charging infrastructure issues, a zero-emissions standard, how to incentivize the transition to EVs and disincentivize the purchase of polluting vehicles, or worker training campaigns, we really need to train workers. Right now, it's a real problem. We really need to do this work.
I'm talking about training workers, vendors and people who work in garages, all the way up to automakers and well-established dealerships. This is a real challenge, because there is a problem with labour and staff turnover.
I've asked people who work at dealerships if they've ever plugged an electric car into a fast-charging station. Less than 5% of the 2,000 respondents said yes. That means that people who work at dealerships don't have the training to know how to sell, charge and introduce electric vehicles to customers. It's a real problem.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
I understand the scope of the problem.
I have a question for both of you. Can you tell us about the health benefits of replacing gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Thank you for raising that.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Most opponents of the zero-emissions standard never talk about health or the environment, yet we see that the impact of air pollution from motor vehicle traffic amounts to nearly $10 billion a year.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Yes, I'll get back to you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
You can always write to us.
Mr. Green and Ms. Kyriazis, if you have any comments you want to add, please forward them to the clerk. It's always a pleasure to have your comments inserted into our reports.
Mr. Ross, the floor is yours for five minutes.
Conservative
Ellis Ross Conservative Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you.
Ms. Kyriazis, I've heard the comments about making more lower-priced models available in Canada and how that would encourage EV sales. Most of the world is acknowledging that that lower-priced model comes from China. The European Union is seeing a surge in Chinese EVs being employed in Europe, for example. Europe is starting to employ tariffs and subsidies to domestic manufacturers to compete with the Chinese EVs.
Should Canada be encouraging more Chinese EVs as lower-priced models here in Canada?
Director of Policy and Strategy, Clean Energy Canada
As Canada explores other ways to bring more affordable models to the Canadian market, it's an option. The EU has placed tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. They range from 8% to 35%. Chinese EVs have come into the EU and are popular with buyers, but not as popular as you think. In—
Conservative
Ellis Ross Conservative Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Should Canada encourage Chinese EVs to be allowed in Canada without a 100% tariff, as you are currently seeing?
Director of Policy and Strategy, Clean Energy Canada
It's definitely an option to consider. It would not only directly offer more affordable models to Canadians, coming from China, but it would also stimulate competition here in Canada, which is what we're seeing in the EU, where 10 of those 21 affordable models available in the EU are being produced by domestic EU carmakers.
Conservative
Ellis Ross Conservative Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Canada has a lot to consider, especially the tariffs they're imposing on Chinese EVs to be in line with U.S. policy, but should we be considering the security concern that other countries have had with Chinese EVs when we're talking about bringing in Chinese EVs to Canada?
Director of Policy and Strategy, Clean Energy Canada
I think Canada wants to look at lots of considerations if we make that decision—some related to cybersecurity, some related to potentially labour standards, maybe putting conditions on lower tariffs based on attracting investment from Chinese battery or automakers here, employing Canadian workers and purchasing Canadian critical minerals. There are lots of ways that we could structure that agreement to ensure that it benefits Canadian consumers and workers.
Conservative
Ellis Ross Conservative Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
You actually led me into my next question. The reason for lower-priced models is basically because of their cost structure, which Canada doesn't have. Does your organization look into the different standards that Chinese EV makers have, for instance, that Canada doesn't have? I'm really talking about environmental standards that Chinese manufacturers don't have and labour standards that Chinese manufacturers don't have as opposed to Canadian. Does your institute look into that?
November 6th, 2025 / 11:50 a.m.
Director of Policy and Strategy, Clean Energy Canada
The cost competitiveness of Chinese-made EVs is due to decades of investment. They are so far ahead of American automakers in driving down battery costs—