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Building a green economy: Government of Canada to require 100% of car and passenger truck sales be zero-emission by 2035 in Canada

To build a cleaner, more prosperous economy that fights climate change and creates good jobs, the Government of Canada is taking action to cut pollution from all sectors of the economy – including from the transportation sector, which accounts for one-quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced that the Government of Canada is setting a mandatory target for all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks sales to be zero-emission by 2035, accelerating Canada’s previous goal of 100 percent sales by 2040.

To ensure Canada gets to this goal, and to provide certainty about the pathway to get there, the Government of Canada will pursue a combination of investments and regulations to help Canadians and industry transition to achieve the 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. It will work also with partners to develop interim 2025 and 2030 targets, and additional mandatory measures that may be needed beyond Canada’s light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions regulations.

Today’s announcement is coupled with existing measures to support increased zero-emission vehicle adoption – from incentives that help with the upfront costs of zero-emission vehicles, to investments in zero-emission charging infrastructure, to partnerships with auto manufacturers which are helping them re-tool and produce zero-emission vehicles right here in Canada. Taken together, the government is setting the country on a clear path towards Canada’s new 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales goal and a prosperous net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

The Government of Canada also remains committed to aligning with the most ambitious light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission regulations in the United States. Supporting a strong and unified North American automotive sector to transition towards zero-emission vehicles contributes to Canada’s climate change goals, and positions Canadian and American workers alike to benefit economically from this global shift.