OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney for his recent decision to pause the government's electric vehicle (EV) mandates and initiate a 60-day review of the program. Poilievre described the move as a significant reversal, stating, "Today, he’s flip-flopped."

He pointed out that Carney had previously advocated for a ban on gas-powered vehicles by 2030 in his book, _Values_, which he noted was more aggressive than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to implement a ban by 2035. Poilievre claimed that Carney's change of direction indicates that the Conservatives were correct in their stance against the carbon tax.

Calling the decision a "clumsy retreat," Poilievre expressed concern that the delay would create uncertainty for businesses considering investments in Canada's automotive sector. He stated, "So now businesses who would otherwise consider investing in automaking here in Canada will have to put that investment on hold while Mark Carney dithers for another year to figure out how to ban people from putting gas and diesel in their trucks and cars."

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has also called for the program to be scrapped entirely. Franco Terrazzano, a representative from the federation, emphasized that many Canadians cannot afford the increased taxes that would be necessary to support the infrastructure for charging stations and other related costs. He stated, "Carney should not be wasting time reviewing the ban; he should be ending it now."

Renaud Brossard from the public policy think tank MEI criticized the 2035 ban on gas-powered engine sales as unrealistic. He argued that instead of trying to salvage the policy, the government should respect consumer choices and lift the prohibition on gas-powered vehicles. Brossard noted that electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for less than 8% of total vehicle sales in June.

Earlier this year, MEI reported that Canada would need to invest approximately $294 billion to upgrade its electrical grid to accommodate mandatory nationwide electric vehicle use by 2035. Jay Goldberg from the Consumer Choice Center echoed the call for the program's termination, stating, "Consumers deserve to choose what kind of vehicle they want to buy, be it electric, hybrid, or gasoline powered. The government should end its electric vehicle mandate, full stop."