Sitting 17 — June 17, 2025

The sitting was dominated by a Conservative opposition motion calling on the government to end its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which the Conservatives described as a ban on gas-powered vehicles. The central political argument pitted Conservative claims that the mandate would destroy consumer choice, raise vehicle prices by $20,000 and kill tens of thousands of auto-sector jobs against Liberal and Bloc Québécois assertions that the policy was a flexible, market-aligned standard to increase the supply of affordable electric and hybrid vehicles while fighting climate change and securing Canadian jobs in a growing global industry.

The main item of Government Orders business was the Conservative opposition motion, moved by Melissa Lantsman (CPC), which called on the government to “immediately end their ban on gas-powered vehicles.” Conservatives argued the mandate would force Canadians to buy EVs they could not afford or charge, especially in rural and northern areas, and cited warnings from auto industry CEOs and a study estimating 38,000 job losses. Liberals countered that the regulation is not a ban—hybrids count toward targets, and used gas vehicles remain legal—and that it ensures Canadians have access to EVs as global demand rises. The Bloc Québécois opposed the motion, arguing Quebec has its own ZEV targets and that the mandate supports Quebec’s battery and clean-energy industries. The NDP did not speak to the motion in the recorded excerpts. The motion was defeated on a recorded vote.

The House then proceeded to debate concurrence in Main Estimates votes, beginning with Vote 1 for the Department of Canadian Heritage. Tom Osborne (Lib.), Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board, outlined the government’s spending plans, including $486.9 billion in total budgetary spending, with highlights such as $33.9 billion for National Defence and $9 billion in Supplementary Estimates (A) for defence and security, including $2.1 billion for Canadian Armed Forces recruitment and retention. Conservatives questioned the adequacy of equipment funding and the impact of spending on military readiness.

Oral Questions focused on two recurring themes: the auto sector and the government’s ZEV mandate, and housing affordability. On the auto sector, Conservatives pressed ministers on job losses from U.S. tariffs and the ZEV mandate, accusing the government of failing to secure a trade deal and of imposing a “$20,000 tax” on gas vehicles. Liberals responded by defending the mandate as a climate and jobs strategy, citing record investments from Volkswagen, Honda and Stellantis, and arguing the biggest threat to the sector is U.S. tariffs, not EV policy. On housing, Conservatives attacked the housing minister’s personal real estate holdings and questioned the effectiveness of the housing accelerator fund, citing falling starts in several cities. The government defended the minister’s compliance with ethics rules and pointed to near-record national housing starts and plans to double construction.