The letter warns that retreating from EV sales targets risks undermining over 130,000 Canadian jobs and billions in investments across the sector

A group of senior executives from across Canada’s electric vehicle ecosystem have written an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging him to maintain the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EVAS).

In their message, sent out today, the group asks the federal government to stay the course on the EVAS framework while allowing for practical, evidence-based refinements to strengthen the policy’s long-term effectiveness.

They also call for the return and expansion of federal EV purchase incentives, which ended in January, and for faster deployment of charging infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions, rural and northern regions, and in multi-unit residential buildings.

“We understand that policies must evolve with changing realities. But evolution doesn’t mean retreat,” the letter reads. “Canada should stand firm on EVAS and provide clear direction.”

The letter is signed by 40 leaders from a broad cross-section of the EV industry, including automakers such as Rivian, charging-network operators such as FLO, ChargePoint and SWTCH, and firms in finance, infrastructure and technology firms such as ABB E-mobility, 7Gen, Asset Market, Alstom Transport Canada and Gilbert’s LLP.

Policy uncertainty a greater risk

In September, Carney announced a pause on the 2026 EVAS, which would have required automakers and dealerships to ensure that 20 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales were zero-emission.

That decision was attributed to “evolving market realities,” including global tariffs and supply-chain pressures.

At the same time, the federal government launched a 60-day internal review of the EVAS framework to reassess Canada’s EV sales trajectory, including the longer-term target of 100 per cent zero-emission sales by 2035.

The open letter welcomes this review as a constructive step, stating that the group “supports the government in taking this time to assess the policy and taking a measured approach that seeks balance between immediate economic realities and long-term climate competitiveness goals.”

However, the signatories caution that policy uncertainty carries its own risks.

“The greater risk to Canada’s EV industry is not tariffs, but policy uncertainty at home,” the letter states.

Keeping a long-term vision

Over the past several years, businesses have made substantial investments across manufacturing, charging infrastructure, technology and finance in response to Canada’s clear signal that it intends to build a globally competitive EV economy.

These investments have created over 130,000 Canadian jobs, a figure projected to grow significantly by 2030, according to the group.

“Abrupt shifts to weaken or eliminate the EVAS risk undermining investor confidence and signalling that Canada is retreating from the very demand signals to which it asked industry to respond,” the group warns.

The letter emphasizes that EVAS is more than a climate measure, it’s a cornerstone of Canada’s industrial strategy.

“The EV Availability Standard provides the clarity and certainty our industry needs to plan for the future,” says Travis Allan, president of the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC) in a statement.

“By offering a predictable trajectory for EV adoption, it sends a powerful investment signal to guide infrastructure growth and give businesses the confidence to scale to meet rising demand.”

The signatories argue that the EVAS supports job creation, leverages Canada’s clean-energy advantage and positions domestic firms to lead in next-generation mobility technologies.

Maintaining the standard, the group concludes, will preserve momentum, attract long-term investment and ensure affordability for Canadian drivers.