Poll: Two-thirds of Canadians support keeping EV mandate, though many want adjustments, as EV rebate pause causes would-be buyers to wait - Clean Energy Canada

A recent poll by Clean Energy Canada reveals that two-thirds (66%) of Canadians support maintaining some form of the country’s Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EV mandate), although many favor adjustments to the policy. While 27% oppose any federal EV requirements, opinions vary on the mandate’s ambition: 16% want it more ambitious, 24% want it unchanged, and 26% prefer it less rigid. Younger Canadians show stronger support, with majorities aged 18 to 44 favoring maintaining or increasing the mandate’s ambition. The majority (52%) also believe Canadians pay more for EVs compared to other countries, highlighting concerns about affordability. The federal government’s recent pause on the $5,000 EV rebate has caused many potential buyers to delay purchases, with 41% of interested consumers saying they would wait for an update rather than buy now. To address affordability, the government could revise the EV mandate to incentivize automakers to offer lower-priced EVs, for example, by rewarding