Debates of June 17th, 2025

Opposition Motion—Sale of Gas-Powered Vehicles

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am happy to rise today to second the motion by the hon. member for Thornhill. I will be splitting my time with the member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

I come from the private sector, and we tend to look at the markets to determine what our customers want. We do not tell them what they need; that is the best way to go out of business. Here, the Liberal government tends to take a different route.

At a press conference in 1986, U.S. President Ronald Reagan said, “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.” That is like this legislation. To me, it is pretty terrifying. To wit, I was around this place when the Liberals introduced the national energy program. It was government interference at its very best. We all know what happened to the national energy program when government decided what was best for the consumer and the market, when it dictated how the private sector would produce its goods and ship its product. The evidence suggests it will not work. When we look at this legislation, we see that it is the new carbon tax. It would result in a similar reaction that we have seen across the country over the past several years with the carbon tax.

As industry tries to cope with the mandate that would be imposed on it, I wonder what the government will do when the sector fails to reach the KPIs that are established in the legislation. Again, I am inclined to look at things like this from a business perspective. I know that the private sector and the public sector are two different things, but there needs to be a business case here. We know what the current government looks at when evaluating business cases such as LNG: It says there is no business case while the world is starving for our liquefied natural gas.

Is the market there? It is not, according to the statistics. The government cannot mandate what the private sector does with its production. It cannot mandate investment capital. It cannot, unless it is free, which the government has pretty much done over the last several years with the amount of money that it has put into subsidies for the EV market. However, the market has shifted.

Plants are being halted, and one major plant has gone bankrupt internationally. In my riding, Linamar built a state-of-the-art, 300,000-square-foot gigafactory in Welland. It is a beautiful building. It was going to employ 200 people. The federal government in Ottawa committed $170 million to this plant. Described as a highly integrated casting, machining and coating operation with the first-of-its-kind gigatonnage high-pressure-die-casting capabilities by an auto supplier in North America or Europe, this plant is beautiful, but it never opened. It is now listed for sale on Realtor.ca.

Where do we go from here? Is the infrastructure available in the country? It is not even close.

A member opposite asked a question earlier about whether the Conservatives would support investment in the infrastructure. Does that just mean more tax dollars? I think perhaps that is what she meant: Were the Conservatives supporting the government's paying the bill for infrastructure after paying the bill to build these plants just to see them shut down?

The punitive measures in the legislation are also interesting. To enforce the mandate, the program would put on a harsh penalty structure that implements a $20,000 tax per vehicle on any auto manufacturer that is unable to meet the quota. Put another way, if a company is supposed to sell 1,000 vehicles in 2026 and 200 of those must be EVs, but it ends up selling only 150 EVs, the company is therefore 50 EVs short of its quota and subject to fines.

Kristian Aquilina, president of General Motors Canada, urged the Liberals to scrap the EV mandate and said, “It's unrealistic to believe that the country is going to go from 5 or 6 per cent to 20 per cent by model year '26, which starts now.”

Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association said, “The federal EV mandate needs to be repealed before serious damage is done to the auto industry at the worst possible time.”

A study in the Canadian Journal of Economics estimates that the mandate will eliminate 38,000 jobs in the auto sector and cost upward of $138 billion, assuming that the sector never shuts down as a result of this policy.

Let us talk about tariffs. This is the worst possible time to be imposing a new business model on a private sector industry. My colleague for Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke was correct when she said that this could devastate the auto sector.

I want to repeat this. This is the new carbon tax. If the government forces this on the economy, be prepared for a lot of pain and no gain. The only thing that this policy does is rehabilitate Elon Musk's reputation. Yes, let us put Elon in charge and see what happens.

Canadians cannot afford another lost Liberal decade driven by bad Liberal policies. This is government interference extraordinaire. I hope the members opposite will support our common-sense motion to repeal this mandate. I will not hold my breath.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Madam Speaker, listening to the Conservative member, one would think that we are on the brink of apocalypse because of electric cars. He seems to believe that these cars would never sell and would be left on the lots. That is a surprise to me, because we know that Quebec's figures show that EV sales targets are surpassed every year. More EVs are sold each year than is required by the government. That is surprising.

How does my Conservative colleague explain that? How does he explain the fact that 50% of EVs sold in Canada are sold in Quebec? Does it not look like there is an appetite somewhere for these vehicles?

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am not here to say that there is no market at all for EVs. What I am saying is that the government cannot impose its will on a private sector business without continuing to invest massive amounts of dollars to incentivize production and capital investment. That is the only reason why we are here today with the motion. We have been responding to a business case with a false narrative. The private sector will respond if the market is there, but let us let the private sector do the work and invest the money to make it work.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Madam Speaker, does the member know what all these lights are around us? They are LED lights. They are the most efficient, from a production perspective and also from an energy consumption perspective and, thus, an electrical perspective, in terms of the electricity produced to use them.

Does the member not realize that, 25 years ago, the light bulb that was most used was an incandescent light bulb? Does the member think that industry just created the LED light bulb and suddenly we started using them? No, it did not.

In the province of Ontario, the provincial government said that it was going to phase out the incandescent light bulb. The member might remember that, in the interim we had the compact fluorescent light bulb, which lasted for about 10 to 15 years. After that, the LED light bulb became the most prominent light bulb. It is now the cheapest light bulb to produce and use.

That all happened because the government in Ontario at the time said it wanted to phase out the incandescent light bulb and replace it with the LED light bulb. Because of its initiative, today, we only use LED light bulbs, which produce more light and produce it more cost-effectively.

Does the member wish that we still had the incandescent light bulb?

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Madam Speaker, that is some interesting gaslighting going on there. Nobody then was forcing anyone to completely redesign how they travel in this country. The hon. member is comparing a light bulb to an EV, while fundamentally changing the entire business model of a multi-billion-dollar industry. It is not a light bulb. Let us not confuse apples and oranges here.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Madam Speaker, I want to welcome my colleague to the chamber. I, too, come from the private sector.

On the subject of light bulbs, the government of Ontario did not ban incandescent light bulbs. To the member opposite, what it did was put a target out there. We met yesterday, and a year ago actually, with global and domestic automakers, and they said to give them targets. They are not opposed, and neither is the Conservative Party opposed, to EVs. However, we are saying the private sector will find the most efficient and best solution to get to targets. That is what we are hearing from global manufacturers.

Would my colleague agree that the private sector is best positioned to meet the challenges that we, as a society, face?

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Madam Speaker, I absolutely do. I have to repeat that there is a beautiful, brand new plant in my riding in the city of Welland, where I live. It is a 300,000-square-foot facility. The only reason it was built was because of the subsidies given to it. The plant is never opening. It is on the market for rent or for sale.

This is an incredible example of what happens when the government interferes with the private sector. Consumers will drive the market. We will make a transition to electric vehicles, but we cannot force it by saying that, in the next 10 years, thou shalt not produce another gas-powered vehicle in this country. It is not going to work.

This is going to be the new carbon tax, and I guarantee that the government is going to back down on this in a few years.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, considering this is my first speech of any length during this Parliament, I just want to thank all the constituents of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound for giving me the privilege and honour of being re-elected for the third time to represent them. None of us get here without the incredible hard work of volunteers, supporters and family members, so I just want to thank all of them.

Another thing that I want to do before I get into the crux of my speech is pay tribute to the victims of a tragic vehicle accident. Just a few short weeks ago, on May 23, four high school students, Olivia Rourke, Rowan McLeod, Kaydance Ford and Danica Baker, all aged 16 to 17, along with their teacher, Matt Eckert, 33 years old, died in a tragic vehicle crash. The students and teacher were on their way home to Walkerton District Community School after competing in a high school softball tournament just east of London. Although Walkerton is in the riding of Huron—Bruce, two of the four teenage girls, Rowan McLeod and Kaydance Ford, were part of the Tara Twins minor softball team in my hometown, and all the victims have family in Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

On behalf of all the constituents of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound and all Canadians, I send my deepest condolences to all the families, friends and communities impacted by this terrible tragedy. May they rest in peace.

What are we here to do today? We are here to talk about a Conservative opposition day motion addressing the Liberal government's ban of the sale of gas-powered vehicles that will force Canadians to buy electrical vehicles, and this motion is calling upon them to immediately end this ban, but this debate is really about freedom, choice and common sense.

I got involved in politics, and one of the key overriding factors was the increasing rural-urban divide that I was seeing across Canada. I was tired of seeing decisions coming out of Ottawa from the Liberal government that forced policies and legislation on rural Canadians that may work for some of our urban centres, but not the rest of the country. This ban is just one such example.

Let us assume this Liberal ban continues. With a broad brush, what is actually needed to implement this Liberal policy of banning gas vehicles and having nothing but EVs on the road en masse? I am really going to focus on the infrastructure challenge. We need transmission and distribution lines. We need housing infrastructure. We need charging infrastructure. We need road infrastructure. Finally, we need affordable and reliable EVs.

Specifically, let us look at the transmission and distribution lines. According to the government's own department, Natural Resources Canada, the:

estimate of grid upgrades required to meet EV demand—including generation, transmission and distribution—ranges from $26 billion to 294 billion (mid-range: $94 billion) over the 2025 to 2040 period, reflecting the significant uncertainty around the magnitude of costs, as well as regional variations.

That is very much aligned with a conversation I had a couple years ago with Electricity Canada and all the major stakeholders involved there. The sheer amount of money that needs to be put in to upgrade these lines is immense. Where is the federal support for that? Where is the provincial support? Where is the private industry support? It is not even close to what is needed to meet the mandate the Liberals are proposing.

Next, let us look at housing infrastructure for many rural Canadians and senior Canadians, even in my own riding. I live in a 150-year-old farmhouse. I am going to rip it down and build a new one, but in the meantime, I am using glass fuses. The power line that runs from the road to my house could not handle an electric vehicle even if I wanted to replace it all. I am just one example, and fortunately I am privileged enough to be able to eventually change and fix that, but that is not the case for the average constituent in my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

As well, the largest appetite for EVs comes in our more urban areas, but those people living in apartments or condos do not even have access to or control of the necessary charging infrastructure needed in their homes. Approximately 34% of households in Canada live in apartments. This is a huge issue.

On charging infrastructure, right now there are approximately 34,000 charging stations across Canada. Again, Natural Resources Canada's reports forecast that 680,000 public charging ports are needed to meet this Liberal mandate. Where is the plan? Where is the investment? Who is going to pay for all this infrastructure?

On road infrastructure, our current roads are ill-equipped to handle the increased weight of electric vehicles. If, by 2035, we see Canadians only able to purchase new electric vehicles, provincial and municipal budgets will be eaten up by the cost of road repairs alone. Provincial governments, as was brought up earlier in the debate, mainly dedicate the revenue generated from gas taxes to building and fixing the roads, which would no longer be available. These are just highlights on the challenges of infrastructure alone.

On the cost, Trevor Melanson, from Clean Energy Canada, said this about the biggest barrier preventing Canadians from going to EVs: “the biggest barrier, by far, is sticker price.” The minimum price is $15,000 over a brand new gas-powered vehicle. I would argue that this is if we are looking at high-end gas vehicles.

The next question is addressing this. We need affordable, reliable and available EVs that Canadians actually want. Do Canadians want them? Let us look at a recent survey, published in the last couple of months or weeks, asking consumers about their purchasing intentions. There were 45% of Canadians who said that they quite possibly would consider buying an EV. However, this is a 13% decrease compared to when this question was asked in 2022. The bottom line is that the situation has changed.

I spent 25 years in the military. When we do what is called “battle procedure”, getting ready to deploy into battle or an operation, we go through this whole tactical process. What is the last thing we do? We ask ourselves, has the situation changed? Guess what, we are in an affordability crisis. We are dealing with tariffs. We are dealing with a situation where we can no longer afford to go with this mandate; we need to revisit it.

Earlier, I mentioned the urban-rural divide. Not surprisingly, the majority of urban Canadians, statistics indicate somewhere between 52% and 69%, actually would not mind an EV. All the power to them, let them buy an electric vehicle, but as I have outlined, for those of us in rural Canada this is not an option and the interest is not there.

Let us talk about the reliability of electric vehicles. CAA found that EVs lose up to 40% of their battery life in cold weather, and this was a test that was done in the -7°C to -15°C range, which is actually pretty balmy for those who live in western Canada or even rural Ontario. I just went through one of the worst winters that we have had in decades, for the sheer amount of snowfall. If I get stuck out there in the snow during a snowstorm, the one thing I carry around is a spare gas can so that I am not going to run out of gas and I can keep myself warm. However, people driving an EV do not have that option.

What about the impact that this mandate will have on the Canadian economy? Will these EVs even be available? Ford Canada CEO Bev Goodman said on June 10, “The targets on full battery-electric vehicles need to be aligned with what customers want, and customers have spoken.... Ultimately, it will have a negative impact, if these mandates stuck, on the industry.... It will have downward pressure on vehicle sales, it will have upward pressure on pricing, and those are real concerns for consumers and the industry as a whole.”

In conclusion, this Liberal EV mandate makes no sense. It is unrealistic. There is no plan for infrastructure, whether it be transmission lines, charging stations, home upgrades or road upgrades. It will negatively impact Canadians' jobs and make life more expensive. I am not opposed to Canadians who want to buy or drive an EV. However, this EV mandate disproportionately impacts rural Canadians and seniors, and it takes away their choices of freedom. This mandate needs to end now.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Madam Speaker, if we were to assume that, on the low end, the average vehicle uses about 100,000 litres of gas in its lifetime, and the average price of gas right now is $1.20 a litre, that means that driving an EV would save people, over the lifespan of the vehicle, $120,000. We would come nowhere close to spending a quarter of that on electricity, so even if the price tag of purchasing the vehicle, in the member's words, was $15,000 more, the average person would save tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Notwithstanding the fact that the sticker price is still going to impede a number of people, which I agree with the member on, would he not agree that, over the lifetime of the vehicle, people would see a significant cost savings?

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am not going to disagree with the member that over its lifetime, for somebody who is able to buy the vehicle in the first place, it could save money. He is missing the whole point in my speech. The government is forcing people to make this decision, people who do not have the option to buy it in the first place. In ridings like my own, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, even if people buy the vehicle, the infrastructure does not exist to charge it at their house or drive it around the riding without running out of a charge or constantly keeping themselves limited in where they can go. It is not realistic.

We need to build the infrastructure and come up with a plan, and the market will drive people's choices in the future.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I find it rather surprising that my colleague is saying that a policy that encourages people to buy electric vehicles would have a disproportionate effect on Canadians.

He spent his time demonizing electric vehicles. I live 660 kilometres from Ottawa, and I drive here in an electric car. I have to wait 15 to 20 minutes to recharge my vehicle, so it is one of the best alternatives. The only disproportionate effect that I see is the disproportionate effect that the oil and gas industry is having on the environment, the disproportionate effect that internal combustion vehicles are having on the environment. Those things do have a disproportionate effect.

I do not understand my colleague's reasoning.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, as I said countless times in my speech and in my previous response, I have nothing against Canadians who want the choice and can afford to buy an electric vehicle. I will not disagree that over the lifetime of the vehicle it can potentially save people money. I do not disagree with the argument of the potential climate benefits that EVs have over a gas-powered vehicle. My point is that we cannot force Canadians to go down this path.

We can incentivize. Where are the incentives? Where is the plan? Where is the infrastructure needed to make this happen? If the government lays this all out, if it is upfront and transparent and lets the market get there, then we will eventually get there and technology will drive us there, but we are not there yet.

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Madam Speaker, I heard my colleague say that he is from a rural area. My rural area is the third largest in Alberta, 83,000 square kilometres. There are sections where there are signs telling people to make sure they fill up because there are 200 kilometres before there are any services. When there are not even services for any kind of vehicles, how are people in rural areas going to be able to handle that?

For me, as a farmer, how am I going to pull my stock trailer with an electric vehicle?

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, I fully agree with my colleague's point. This is what I tried to highlight. For rural Canadians, it is just not an option. He specifically targeted farmers and those driving pickup trucks. I have been driving a pickup truck since 1997. I am never going to own a vehicle other than a pickup truck as my primary vehicle, because it is essential for living on a small farm and getting around to do what I need to do.

Would I like to buy an electric vehicle or have another option, or maybe even a hybrid? I looked at it, but even though I do well, I cannot afford to buy even a used hybrid right now if I found one on the market. Again, I am somebody who is doing okay. There are so many Canadians whose vehicles turn into being the second-largest cost for them. We need to make it affordable before we actually mandate it on all Canadians.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is a great honour, as always, to stand in this House and speak on behalf of the residents of my riding of Davenport.

Before I continue, I want to say that I will be very happily sharing my time with my colleague, the member for Kingston and the Islands.

I will be speaking to the opposition day motion today. I am also going to be speaking a lot about innovation and a lot of things that I think are shaping the future, not only in Canada, but for the whole world. What I am talking about is electric vehicles, also known as EVs.

Before I go further, I want to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

The way we get around is changing fast. That change is driven by the need to cut pollution, slow down climate change, make our communities healthier, save money and build cleaner, smarter economies. Around the world, people are choosing electric vehicles more than ever before. Governments, businesses and families are all getting behind this movement. This is not just about cars; it is also about jobs, innovation, energy and fairness. This is about the kind of country and planet we want to leave behind for the next generation.

Let us take a look at what is happening around the world.

When it comes to EV use, Norway is leading the world. Nearly nine out of 10 new cars sold there are electric or hybrid. This did not just happen on its own; Norway made it much easier for people to make the switch, with things like tax breaks, toll-free roads and lots of charging stations.

China is another huge player. In fact, it has more electric vehicles on the road than any other country in the world. The Chinese government has made major investments, helping local companies grow and making EVs more affordable. It has also built strong supply chains, especially for batteries and key materials.

Other countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, are also moving quickly. In these countries, people can see the benefits of cleaner air, lower fuel costs and quieter cities. Their governments are also thinking long-term, making public transport electric and improving infrastructure so that EVs are practical for everyone. In the United States, EV adoption has grown quickly as well, especially in states like California.

It is not just about how many electric vehicles are on the road; it is also about who is coming up with the best ideas, the best technology and the smartest ways to build these vehicles. Innovation matters.

Germany continues to be a global leader in automotive engineering. Its companies are working on better batteries, more efficient manufacturing and high-quality electric cars that people want to drive.

Japan was an early leader in hybrid technology and continues to work on alternatives like hydrogen-powered vehicles. These could play a role alongside battery EVs, especially for long-distance transport.

South Korea is a powerhouse when it comes to batteries. Its companies are helping improve how fast batteries charge, as well as how long they last and how safe they are. This is a key piece of the puzzle for making electric vehicles better and more affordable.

Of course, Canada is making important contributions, too. We have the natural resources the world needs, like lithium, cobalt and nickel. We also have skilled workers, strong research institutions and companies that are pushing the boundaries of clean technology. Across the country, Canadian businesses are working on things like vehicle automation, smart charging and cleaner battery production. We have also seen amazing work in indigenous communities, where clean energy and innovation go hand in hand with local leadership and sustainability.

Where is EV innovation headed? Let us talk about the future, because this is just the beginning. First, we are going to see better batteries. Scientists and engineers are developing solid-state batteries that charge faster, last longer and are even safer. That means EVs will soon go further on a single charge and cost less to maintain.

Second, EVs are becoming part of a smarter energy system. With vehicle-to-grid technology, EVs can actually help power homes and stabilize the electricity grid. This is a big step toward a cleaner, more resilient energy system, and it puts more control in the hands of everyday people.

Third, the electric shift is not just about personal cars. Buses, delivery vans, taxis and trucks are also going electric. This means cleaner air in our cities, less noise pollution and a big win for public health, especially in areas that have suffered most from traffic and emissions.

As we move forward, we need to make sure this transition is fair and inclusive. That is what we are doing, because we believe that everyone in Canada should be able to benefit from electric vehicles, not just people in big cities or with higher incomes. This means making sure there are charging stations in rural, remote and northern communities. It means working with first nations, Métis and Inuit communities so they are partners and leaders in this work, not just participants.

It also means supporting the workers whose jobs are changing. That is what we are doing. From the oil patch to auto assembly lines, we are making sure people know there is a place for them in this new economy. When we invest in retraining, local manufacturing and green jobs, we are working for those Canadians.

We are also thinking about the full life cycle of electric vehicles. I am talking about mining materials responsibly, recycling old batteries and making sure we are not solving one environmental problem by creating another one. Canada has a huge opportunity here. We are taking these important steps because EVs are a key part of our climate plan. We are seeing new investments in battery plants, EV manufacturing, and clean-tech hubs across the country.

We are not stopping there, because we can lead the world in sustainable mining, green manufacturing and fair, accessible transportation. We can build an electric future, one that reflects our values of inclusion, fairness, innovation and care for the environment. We can work together across party lines, across regions and across industries to create a future where clean transportation helps us meet our climate goals, grow our economy and build stronger, healthier communities.

This is not a distant dream; it is happening now. The world is changing and Canada is ready to lead. The transition to electric vehicles is more than a shift in technology. It is a chance to reimagine how we move, how we live and how we take care of the planet we call home. Let us seize this moment with boldness, with fairness and with determination. Let us build a cleaner, stronger Canada together.

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Madam Speaker, my Liberal colleague across the way extols the virtues of the electric vehicle. It sounds wondrous. It sounds like a grade 8 oral, in fact. It sounds like they are wonderful vehicles.

What would my colleague say to my friend who has a Tesla and cannot drive it in the winter because it is cold in Edmonton? He needs to borrow his spouse's vehicle because he cannot turn on the heater to get to work, so he does not drive the EV when it is cold in the winter. What would she tell him?

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Speaker, the single biggest threat to Canada's auto sector, or to Canada in general, is American tariffs, not electric vehicles. We are fighting to protect Canadian jobs and are building an electric vehicle supply chain that is driving record investment into our economy. Transportation emissions have declined to levels that have not been seen in decades, demonstrating that we can grow our economy while also fighting climate change. That is what I would say.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Speaker, my colleague talks about the importance of vehicle electrification and technology development. I get the feeling that she is talking out of both sides of her mouth.

I just found an email that Annie Chagnon from Chagnon Honda sent me during the election campaign. In the email, she criticizes the end of, or cuts to, the incentives for zero-emission vehicles that goes completely against transport electrification and the government's EV production requirements.

By dithering on the issue of incentives, the government may have caused fewer people to buy EVs. It would be important to get back to promoting them.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. member. I think the types of incentives that our federal government has introduced in the past have led to an increase in Canadians buying electric vehicles. We have, for the moment, temporarily halted those incentives, but it is my hope that we will be returning to them in the near future.

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Madam Speaker, I live in Calgary, which also gets fairly cold in the winter, I think we might agree. Certainly, it is true that first-generation EVs did struggle with heat in the cold because, of course, they used electric heaters. That was all that was required in California markets. However, second-generation EVs and further are much more sophisticated. They use heat pumps and the like, which are very good for Canadian winters.

Considering this and considering the uniqueness of the Canadian market, can you speak to the benefit of a Canadian-made supply chain that reflects the values of Canada?

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

I cannot speak about anything, but the hon. member for Davenport might.

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Madam Speaker, can we hear the hon. member's comments about the virtues of a Canadian-made supply chain?

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Speaker, I think we have been hearing about this a lot in the news. We are working very hard and very expeditiously to create a resilient, strong Canadian economy. As part of that, we are forming alliances with car companies around the world. One of them is Volkswagen. It will be the largest car company manufacturing EVs and batteries in North America. This is just one of our many investments.

We are partnering with these types of companies to make sure that we are creating cars and creating options that will lower emissions and meet our everyday needs. Whether it is in our urban life, our rural life, a cold environment or a hot environment, we are making sure that we create the cars we need here in Canada, moving forward.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have heard red herring after red herring: no heat, reduction in gas tax revenue, low range and not enough charging stations. That is all the Conservatives have to offer on this. Somebody accused me of gaslighting a few moments ago in a speech. This is a gaslighting tutorial being put on by the Conservatives right now, who are trying to make everybody fearful of electric vehicles.

I want to go to a quote from earlier today from the member for Huron—Bruce. He said that we should take as an example a Ford electric truck. He said it is great if someone is just “tooting down the road” with nothing to pull behind them, but as soon as they put a trailer on it with a bit of a load, the battery does not hold. He thinks people need a combustion engine to get the job done.

I am somebody who owns one of these “tooting down the road” Ford trucks. I have had it for two years and two weeks. I have put 89,000 kilometres on this vehicle just tooting it around.

[An hon. member]

How many pounds have you towed?