• Carney delaying ban on new gas and diesel vehicle sales
• B.C. has a more stringent ban looming

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Premier David Eby to immediately scrap his government’s plans to ban the sale of new gas and diesel vehicles.

“What is Eby waiting for? The premier should read the room and scrap his government’s plan to ban the sale of new gas and diesel vehicles in B.C.,” said Kris Sims, spokesperson for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Ottawa has recognized that this policy won’t work and B.C. needs to hit the brakes too.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the federal government is delaying the implementation of the so-called electric vehicle mandate.

Prior to the change, Ottawa was going to mandate 20 per cent of all new vehicle sales must be plug-in electric vehicles. Dealerships that failed to hit quota would need to buy into an expensive government credit scheme. Restrictions were scheduled to start Jan. 1, 2026. Ottawa planned to keep raising the quota until new gasoline and diesel vehicle sales would be entirely outlawed in Canada by 2035.

Natural Resources Canada estimates transitioning Canada’s vehicles to battery-powered cars could cost up to $300 billion.

Carney is now delaying the implementation of the mandate by at least one year and he has started a 60-day consultation regarding the policy.

The Globe and Mail editorial board is calling for him to scrap the plan altogether.

B.C. has its own looming ban on the sale of gas and diesel vehicles.

Starting in 2026, the B.C. government is still requiring that 26 per cent of new vehicle sales in B.C. must be battery-powered vehicles. The quota is cranked up to 90 per cent by 2030. The B.C. government plans to ban all new gas and diesel vehicle sales by 2035.

“There’s no way families can afford this crazy costly plan to ban the sale of normal cars and trucks,” said Sims. “This car ban is a nonstarter because ordinary people can’t afford it.

“Eby should not wait for Carney to figure out how to scrap Ottawa’s failed policy, the premier needs scrap the B.C. ban immediately.”

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