Evidence of meeting #16 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 evas.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Global Automakers of Canada
It's the same position as I've outlined in my remarks, yes.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Do you acknowledge that they don't have the same positions, that Toyota and Honda want to eliminate the standard and that the others want to change it?
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I don't know if that is actually the position of Honda and Toyota, but I think the—
President, Global Automakers of Canada
No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying I don't know that it's the position of Honda and Toyota that they want to end EVAS.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
That's it; you don't know if that's their position. You can't tell me whether they want to eliminate it.
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I'm telling you that Honda and Toyota, my members, are comfortable with the position that I put before you today.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
That's not my question. Can you tell me if Toyota and Honda want to keep or eliminate the standard?
President, Global Automakers of Canada
They support the remarks that I've made today.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
You aren't answering my question, then. Okay.
You previously said that you were against importing affordable European electric vehicles, saying that it would harm jobs at Honda. Honda doesn't manufacture 100% electric vehicles in Canada, only conventional hybrid vehicles, if that.
Do you mean that Canadians should be forced to buy gas-powered vehicles so as not to harm manufacturers like Honda, which refuse to manufacture electric vehicles?
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Okay, but you're saying that it would harm jobs at Honda.
Is that not what you're saying?
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I don't think I made any specific remarks with respect to Honda.
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I haven't said it in my remarks today.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
I'm not talking about today, but in general. When things are said in the public sphere, they are public.
Have you ever said that it would jeopardize jobs at Honda?
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I'm sorry. Was the original question what would jeopardize jobs at Honda?
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Have you ever said that if there were a zero-emission standard in Canada, it would jeopardize jobs at Honda?
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Okay.
We'll look it up. It will be interesting.
Right now, regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty vehicles are being cancelled because they need to be aligned with those of the United States.
What do you suggest to regulate the reduction of greenhouse gases in light-duty vehicles?
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I don't think there's been a determination that the Canadian regulations are going to be changed at this point.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Canadian regulations must be aligned with the United States, which has abandoned its commitments.
What do you recommend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in light-duty vehicles?
President, Global Automakers of Canada
I think the view that makes sense, which all the members support, is to have a technology-neutral approach to reducing emissions. That would be having greenhouse gas emission targets that every company can work towards by deploying their own specific technology to meet specific targets. In that regard, that tends to drive the same outcome as what an EVAS does, which drives more electrification of the marketplace.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Okay.
Mr. Pascalon and Ms. Côté, what should we base our sales targets on for electric vehicles in Canada?
November 24th, 2025 / 12:45 p.m.
Senior project manager, Propulsion Québec
Propulsion Québec's proposals are based on the electric vehicle adoption curve observed in other countries. We followed Norway's example exactly, but with a 12‑year lag, since we are 12 years behind Norway.
Right now, if you look at the EV adoption curves in China and Great Britain, they follow exactly the same curve as Norway, but seven years behind. That would put us five years behind China and Great Britain.
Propulsion Québec uses actual data to make projections. The curve we are proposing is based on what has actually happened in other countries when it comes to the adoption of electric vehicles.