By Canadian Press

Conservatives plan national campaign against federal electric vehicle mandates

Aug 14, 2025 | 9:38 AM

OTTAWA — Pierre Poilievre is planning to swap his fight against the carbon tax this fall for a new battle against what he’s calling the “Carney tax.”

The Conservative leader says his party will launch a national campaign to call on the Liberals to scrap their electric vehicle mandate.

The policy requires 20 per cent of all light-duty vehicles sold in Canada next year must be zero-emission vehicles, rising to 100 per cent by 2035.

Manufacturers that do not meet the target can be hit with a $20,000 penalty, which Poilievre is calling a tax.

The vehicle manufacturing industry says that with U.S. tariffs and the end of government sales incentive programs, it will be impossible to hit the 20 per cent benchmark next year.

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Poilievre says the mandates are ideological and the Tories plan to push for their termination through public events and motions in the House of Commons.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press