Madam Speaker, it is great to see you looking so fabulous today, and in the chair and back to work the way I know you want to be.
I will be sharing my time with the great member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.
I am really pleased to speak to the issue of EV cars, why they are so important and why we as a government continue to encourage that kind of investment.
We are gathered in the chamber at a pivotal moment, not just for our government but for the future of all Canadians everywhere. Beyond these walls, families, workers and business owners are thinking about what comes next. It is a very challenging time for our country, but also a very exciting time to look at a different way of doing business than how we were doing it and running the government previously. People are reflecting on the kinds of jobs they have and might have in the future and the economy and environment they want their children and grandchildren to inherit. It is a huge responsibility we have in our hands in the upcoming years as we move forward.
The shift toward electric and zero-emission vehicles is not about limiting choice, because as a government, we very much want to encourage more people to get an electric car and experience it. It is about creating new opportunities for Canadians and keeping our country competitive in a rapidly changing world. More than that, it is about living up to values that have always defined our national character: responsibility, ambition, a drive to build something better for the next generation and protecting our environment.
In a time of uncertainty when Canada is facing the impact of unjustified tariffs from the United States, it is important that we seize every opportunity to expand our industries, including the EV industry, and welcome the thousands of jobs that come with it from end to end, from mining critical minerals for EV batteries, which is very important and a great opportunity for Ontario, in particular, when it comes to the Ring of Fire and exploring the mining industry; to becoming a critical mineral supplier of choice for the world's EV manufacturers, which should make us stop and think about what it will do for our economy; to putting together the necessary infrastructure for Canadian vehicles to remain charged; to welcoming new automotive manufacturing opportunities. We cannot afford to turn these jobs away during a time when our economy, our sovereignty and our prosperity are in jeopardy.
During times of great change, it is easy to feel uncertain. That is understandable for everyone. Every great leap Canada has ever taken demanded leadership, vision and honest conversation, and I believe we are hearing that every single day from the new Prime Minister. In the case of our transportation sector, we know that vehicles are more than just machines. They are the backbone of many Canadians' daily lives. Whether it is work, school, family, opportunities or travel, so much depends on reliable mobility, and it is our job to ensure that mobility remains accessible, affordable and sustainable now and into the future.
Over the last several years, the global auto industry has been moving in one clear direction. People want cleaner vehicles because they care about what their families breathe and about the world their children will inherit. Across the globe, we see that countries and companies alike are racing to innovate, breaking ground on new factories and inventing new technologies designed to meet these demands.
Canada has the expertise. We have the workers, we have the minerals, we have the manufacturing capacity and now we have the vision to be an energy superpower for the 21st century. Since 2020, over $34 billion has flowed to Canada through major investments in the batteries and automotive supply chain, and that is just the beginning.
These investments are not distant promises. Factories are going up, equipment is coming in, and on top of that, developing new mines and new processing plants for a national EV supply chain will contribute upward of $16 billion to our annual GDP and create up to 40,000 well-paying jobs over the next decade for our children and our grandchildren. That is real economic growth with a real impact on real people's lives.
To realize these benefits, Canada has been building. We know that making the decision to switch to electric vehicles is a big step for most families. That is why we have invested in practical support. Canadians will benefit from a network of tens of thousands of electric vehicle chargers, funded by the zero-emission vehicle infrastructure program, and with the Canada Infrastructure Bank's deploying another 5,000 EV chargers, we are making sure charging is available for rural, remote and urban communities, ensuring range anxiety soon becomes a thing of the past.
Over the past weekend, I was at a local shopping mall. There were half a dozen chargers there, and every one of them was filled with someone filling up their car, which happens very quickly. They would move out and someone else would move in.
The electric vehicle availability standard that the Conservatives are opposing will actually incentivize the construction of thousands of new charging stations. We believe, on this side of the House, that Canadians deserve real, reliable information about their options. With every new charging station, every new awareness program and every new vehicle on the road, Canadians are moving forward, not backward.
Canadians across every province and territory are choosing electric. In 2024, approximately one in six vehicles sold produces zero emissions, and costs, contrary to some fears, are coming down. As manufacturing ramps up and technology improves, EVs are becoming more accessible, with over 80 models now available in various showrooms. For many, the switch is making life easier and more affordable by reducing fuel costs and maintenance costs. Cleaner vehicles also mean healthier air, something every Canadian wants regardless of where they live or how they vote.
The transition is also about more than private vehicles. Businesses are investing in greener fleets, municipalities are running zero-emission buses, and entrepreneurs from coast to coast are using Canadian know-how to manufacture parts and innovate new systems for the world. This is true Canadian leadership that we are hearing about every day: Canadian leadership at its best, building prosperity and protecting our environment at the same time. I would welcome my colleagues remaining in the House to become more supportive of this particular initiative, as it will be very helpful for our planet as we move forward.
Let us not forget why the work matters for our planet and our health. On-road transportation accounts for nearly a fifth of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. By embracing new technology, we are fulfilling our responsibility to reduce our footprint, which is a responsibility for each and every one of us.
We are also meeting the clear demand from global markets. Our trading partners across Europe, Asia and North America are raising their standards and seeking cleaner vehicles. To keep selling Canadian-built cars and trucks, we must meet these expectations. We must stay competitive, or we will risk falling behind and losing economic ground, which is not at all what we want to see.
When we talk about the electrification of transportation, we cannot overlook the foundation that makes it possible. With Canada's wealth of critical minerals, from lithium to nickel, and cobalt to graphite, we are one of the only countries in the world with all of the ingredients required to produce advanced EV batteries from the ground up. That is an amazing and exciting opportunity for all of us.
Developing Canada's critical minerals is not just a matter of resource extraction; it is also about creating a strategic, national supply chain, generating high-quality, future-proof jobs and reinforcing Canadian economic sovereignty in an era of global uncertainty. Every new mine and processing facility means paycheques in resource communities, and know-how that stays right here at home.
Globally, demand for critical minerals is skyrocketing. As the world commits to cleaner vehicles and low-carbon energy, countries are racing to secure stable, responsible sources of these essential minerals. This is a generational chance for Canada to lead, to supply not only our auto sector and EV battery plants—
