Mr. Speaker, what a fascinating debate this is. Unfortunately, I think we need to reframe it and recognize it for what it really is.
The oil and gas companies and carmarkers both here in Canada and around the world are waging a campaign against any government action that would result in lower oil consumption. Let us be clear: Most of the arguments being put forward by my Conservative colleagues today are taken directly out of the oil industry's playbook. The oil industry is fighting to hang onto its market share in the face of a rapid global technological evolution and a rise in EV sales. Many of the remarks we are hearing today are a distortion of the truth. I think that if elected officials want to take part in a substantive debate and act responsibly, they should tell their constituents the truth and stop promoting what amounts to pro-oil propaganda.
Unfortunately, there are auto manufacturers in Canada that are not working for Canadians, on a number of levels. For example, they have put only a limited range of small, affordable vehicles on the market. This goes for both gas-powered and electric vehicles. Most of the EVs on the market, few of which are manufactured here, are large vehicles. They are extremely expensive, and the middle class cannot afford them. New vehicles are becoming more and more expensive in general.
One of the major problems we have in terms of vehicle availability is that the manufacturers are not putting them on the market of their own volition. What the Conservatives are proposing is to eliminate any obligation for manufacturers to market these vehicles. Following COVID-19, there was a shortage of vehicles, and many people had to wait nearly two years for an EV. Few models were available, and the most affordable ones were not being offered. Why did it take so long to get these vehicles here? Due to a shortage and problems with the supply of parts, among other things, manufacturers were forced to prioritize markets where there were rules requiring them to provide EVs. That means that places where there was no obligation to sell EVs came last. That is why there were delays and consumers had no options.
It is completely illogical to think that if we allow EV manufacturers to operate as a free market, there will be more EVs. The past very clearly shows that this is not how things work. We need to regulate manufacturers and make them responsible for offering more and more vehicles, as well as smaller electric vehicles, which is a problem right now.
As for the propaganda we are hearing today, we have heard both the oil companies and the Conservatives say that people will not be allowed to choose what vehicle to buy. They are suggesting that, starting in 2035, gas-powered cars could be seized. They are saying that the government could seize a gas-powered vehicle owned by an individual. That is just not true. We are talking about new vehicles. By 2035, new gas-powered vehicles will no longer be sold. That is 10 years from now, and the technology is already in place today to replace gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles. The gains are significant.
Obviously, we will talk a little later about the fight against climate change, the fact that the transportation sector is a problem and the fact that electric vehicles are part of the solution, but not the only one. However, it is wishful thinking to imagine that Canada could achieve its objectives by eliminating regulations, measures and programs when the country is already not on track to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. More specifically, it is proof of the Conservatives' total unwillingness to fight climate change and to hold this government accountable for what the World Health Organization says is the single greatest threat facing humanity.
The single greatest health threat facing humanity is climate change. This is not fiction, it is reality. We are right in the middle of experiencing the impacts of climate change, particularly wildfires. To prevent the situation from getting even worse, we need to respect science and reduce emissions in the transportation sector and other sectors. Most credible climate scientists agree on a target of net zero by 2050. We need to cut back considerably. We need to try to stop consuming oil and gas now, or at least in the next 25 years. The deadline is coming up fast. Science is telling us to cut global emissions by half, or almost half, by 2030. We are behind schedule.
Regarding the transportation sector, unfortunately, we cannot force everyone to take the bus. We need to provide more funding for alternatives to solo car rides, including public transportation, car sharing, carpooling and active transportation. We also need to tackle the vehicle fleet. We need to renew the fleet with more fuel-efficient vehicles, such as light-duty vehicles, which are part of the problem. One solution that would be promising in many ways for Quebec and all of Canada is transportation electrification. This would help the fight against climate change by significantly reducing emissions. According to a life cycle assessment by Hydro-Québec, EVs produce almost 65% fewer GHGs over the first 150,000 kilometres. Compared with a gas-powered vehicle, an EV powered with Quebec's renewable electricity produces almost 80% fewer GHGs over 300,000 kilometres. From a climate action perspective, there is no doubt that this is an avenue we need to look to.
As far as health is concerned, unfortunately, the Conservatives do not have much to say about current issues. There are national statistics on mortality rates due to poor air quality. We are talking about 2,000 premature deaths. We must add to that what we call comorbidity, in other words, people with cardiovascular problems, people who end up having days off work, people who end up hospitalized or having to go to the emergency room. These air quality impacts amount to billions of dollars. Fighting climate change also means making sure that we reduce our dependence on oil and improve air quality by reducing emissions related to the combustion of oil. As I was saying, more than 2,000 people die prematurely every year in Montreal alone, according to the statistics. When people switch from a gas-powered vehicle to an electric one, emissions drop to zero because there is no combustion. As I have shown, we must keep in mind that fighting climate change also means reducing health costs which everyone has to pay, both financially and in human terms. Everyone has a grandmother or a grandfather, who is often the first to be affected by poor air quality. The same is true for young children as they develop. Unfortunately, the Conservatives and car manufacturers are not proposing accountability.
In economic terms, we are talking about more than $10-billion worth of imported oil every year for Quebec alone. We have everything to gain from a societal point of view by turning the corner and freeing ourselves from fossil fuels in Quebec, which has joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. The Government of Quebec has very clearly said that we must reduce our dependence on oil. It has said no to new oil and gas exploration and development, and yes to solutions that move us away from oil and gas. From an economic and societal point of view, we are talking about more than $10 billion in imports. The biggest deficit in Quebec's trade balance comes from importing oil. We are choosing this large deficit instead of, among other things, powering up Hydro-Québec and keeping our money at home through renewable energy. That is the kind of societal project we need. We do not need more oil and gas, as the Conservatives are proposing.