The committee studied the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EVAS), hearing from seven witnesses representing environmental, industry, consumer and business perspectives on the regulation’s impact on health, the economy, supply chains and consumer choice.
Evan Wiseman of The Atmospheric Fund argued that weakening the EVAS would cost Canadians billions in lost health benefits, citing Health Canada data showing that the original timeline would yield $91.9 billion in health benefits and prevent 11,000 premature deaths by 2050. He said a one-year delay already implemented cost $8.1 billion in health benefits, and further delays would increase those losses, recommending scheduled five-year reviews and renewed consumer rebates to maintain regulatory certainty.
Cherith Sinasac of Electro-Federation Canada said the EVAS provides the long-term policy certainty needed for global manufacturers to allocate charging infrastructure components to Canada, warning that backtracking would stall private investment and cause job losses. She recommended pausing at the 83% compliance ratio for 2032 to maintain industry confidence while preserving consumer choice between electric and internal combustion vehicles.
Blandine Sebileau of Équiterre said Quebec’s stable zero-emission vehicle standard, combined with declining incentives and awareness campaigns, led to 30% EV sales in 2024, two years ahead of targets. She argued the EVAS already includes sufficient flexibility, such as three-year compliance rollovers and credits for charging infrastructure, and opposed including conventional hybrids, which she said maintain fossil fuel dependence and pollute more than electric vehicles.
Sébastien Côté of the Association des véhicules électriques du Québec said the EVAS ensures Canada is not treated as a non-priority market for manufacturers, which would reduce model availability and raise prices. He cited total ownership cost savings of about $10,000 over eight years for an electric vehicle compared to a gas equivalent, and said 99% of EV owners in Quebec would not return to gasoline vehicles.
David Adams of the Global Automakers of Canada said the current EVAS targets are not achievable by the entire industry, and recommended pausing the standard for the 2027 and 2028 model years while allowing automakers to comply with either greenhouse gas emissions regulations or a revised ZEV mandate. He said consumer demand has collapsed without federal incentives, and that the government must address price parity and charging infrastructure before setting adoption targets.
Marie-Josée Côté and Stéphane Pascalon of Propulsion Québec supported maintaining the EVAS as part of a broader industrial strategy, but recommended adjusting its pace to reflect economic constraints and trade tensions. They urged the urgent reintroduction of federal purchase incentives, support for a national charging network, and government leadership through public fleet electrification, noting that Quebec’s success is built on an integrated approach combining regulation, incentives and infrastructure.
The committee debated and amended a motion regarding the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, ultimately agreeing to invite the commissioner to discuss both the June 2025 and November 2025 reports, and to require organizations subject to performance audits to provide detailed action plans to the committee and the commissioner within six months.
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