Poilievre says Liberal EV mandate would ‘eliminate rural communities’

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is warning that the Liberal government’s electric vehicle sales mandate poses a direct threat to rural Canada, vowing to launch a nationwide campaign to scrap the policy.

Speaking at a press event in Saskatchewan, Poilievre said the mandate — which requires all new vehicle sales in Canada to be zero-emission by 2035 — would devastate farmers, ranchers, and rural industries.

“It will kill jobs, balloon costs and grind rural communities to a halt,” Poilievre said. “Farmers, ranchers, resource workers would not be able to do their jobs because EVs don’t work over long distances and in cold weather. It would literally erase many small towns from the map.”

The Liberal plan includes interim sales targets of 20 per cent electric vehicles by 2026 and 30 per cent by 2030 as part of the government’s emissions reduction strategy.

Poilievre rejected the policy as unrealistic and damaging outside urban centres. “What Mark Carney is doing by banning gas vehicles is he is banning the rural way of life,” he said. “Not only would (the mandate) eliminate rural communities, it would eliminate our auto sector.”

The Conservative leader said his party will roll out a “massive nationwide campaign” in the coming months, including pressure tactics in Liberal ridings, events at car dealerships, and parliamentary motions and petitions.

Poilievre also tied the EV mandate to broader frustrations in rural Canada, including this week’s announcement that China will impose a 76 per cent tariff on Canadian canola seed — a major Prairie export.

“These tariffs are unfair and unjustified, and we lament the fact that Mark Carney has been so silent and so weak, failing to stand up for our farmers against these tariffs,” Poilievre said.

Recent polling suggests skepticism toward the EV policy is growing. A Leger-Postmedia survey found 71 per cent of Canadians believe the federal target is “unrealistic and will cost too much” and should be rolled back.

Automakers have also raised concerns. In May, the heads of Ford, General Motors, Honda, Stellantis and Toyota’s Canadian divisions warned that the mandate would inflict “serious damage” on the industry.

Despite the mounting criticism, the government has defended the mandate as a necessary step to meet Canada’s climate goals.