Canada EV Policy: Where Political Parties stand on EVs in 2025

With Canada’s snap 45th federal election called for April 28th, 2025, updated platforms are now available from all the major federal political parties. While issues like affordability, economy, housing and healthcare are understandably dominating Canada’s 2025 federal election, all parties have released updates to their EV policies and commitments— showing that EV policies remain of critical importance to Canada’s long-term climate goals and economic future.  

Here's a breakdown of where the major federal political parties stand on EVs in 2025.

In Brief: Canadian Political Party EV Policies Compared

EV policy has been a mainstay feature of political party platforms for some time. Most of the detailed positions stem from earlier policy platforms, particularly from 2021 to 2023. For your convenience, we’ve summarized the federal party platforms below, updated to April 2025.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party's 2025 platform introduces updated policies related to electric vehicles, with a focus on economic priorities and selective support for clean technologies. This marks a shift from their 2021 platform, which offered a roadmap emphasizing investments in EV manufacturing, hydrogen development, charging infrastructure, and coordination with U.S. standards.

Key Policies:

• Repealing EV mandate for revenue gain– By repealing the EV mandate, revenue gain is estimated at $2.37B (2026-27) to $5.14B (2028-29). (Conservative Platform 2025)
• Continued federal support for clean incentives– Maintaining clean incentives for the Canadian auto sector supply chain as part of a “Technology, Not Taxes” approach. (Conservative Platform 2025)
• End tax incentives and rebates for made-in-China EVs– To end foreign economic influence and support Canadian auto workers. (Conservative Platform 2025)
• Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate– Introducing a federal zero-emission vehicle sales mandate based on British Columbia’s, requiring 30% of light-duty vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2030. 
  (Conservative Platform 2021)
• North American Alignment– Working with the Biden administration to strengthen North American vehicle emission standards. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• Electricity Grid Modernization– Investing in transmission infrastructure to ensure the electricity grid can support EV growth. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• EV Manufacturing Investment– Pledging $1 billion to support EV manufacturing, including battery production, parts manufacturing, electric trucks, and micro-mobility solutions. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• Hydrogen Innovation– Investing $1 billion in hydrogen vehicles and fueling infrastructure development. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• Charging Standards and Access– Collaborating with the U.S. on a North American charging standard, and making EV wiring mandatory in the national building code. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• New Development Requirements– Encouraging municipalities and provinces to include minimum EV charging spaces in new developments. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• Government Building Requirements– Requiring federal buildings with public parking to offer EV charging by 2025. (Conservative Platform 2021)
• Battery Recycling– Supporting battery recycling and repurposing to reduce waste and lower long-term EV costs. (Conservative Platform 2021)

Related articles on EV charging:

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Liberal Party

As the governing party for the past 9 years, the Liberals have been responsible for implementing Canada’s federal EV policies to date. Their updated 2025 platform introduces new commitments—including additional investment in charging infrastructure and a proposed return of consumer purchase incentives. While many of their programs began in 2021, the Liberals are positioning themselves as the party of ongoing EV expansion and domestic supply chain growth.

Key Policies:

• Expand Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network by supporting the building of thousands of new stations by 2027 – They will also look at ways to reintroduce a purchase incentive worth up to $5,000 that supports Canadian workers and strengthens Canada’s domestic supply chains. (Liberal Platform 2025)
• iZEV Rebates Expansion– Investing an additional $1.5 billion to expand the iZEV rebate program, including eligibility for used vehicles, to help over 500,000 Canadians go electric(Program is currently paused). (Liberal, 2021)
• Charging Infrastructure– Investing $700 million via the Canada Infrastructure Bank to support the buildout of 50,000 EV chargers across Canada by 2027 (Applications are currently closed). (Liberal, 2021)
• ZEV Sales Mandate– Working toward a regulated requirement that 50% of all new light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2030, as a step toward the ultimate 100% ZEV sales target by 2035. (Liberal, 2021)
• EV-Ready Buildings– Providing $100 million to support charging station retrofits in existing residential and commercial buildings. (Liberal, 2021)
• Greening Government Fleet– Accelerating the electrification of the federal fleet, aiming for 100% of light-duty government vehicles to be electric by 2030, up from the previous 80% target. (Liberal, 2021)
• Heavy-Duty Vehicle Goals– Requiring 100% of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales to be ZEV by 2040, where feasible, plus a $200 million investment to retrofit existing large trucks and cut pollution. (Liberal, 2021)
• ZEV Manufacturing Investment– Doubling down through the $8 billion Net Zero Accelerator to attract ZEV and battery manufacturing to Canada. (Liberal, 2021)

Related articles on EV charging infrastructure:

6 Factors to Consider When Planning Your EV Charging Infrastructure For Condos

Why EV-Ready Buildings Are Key to Canada’s EV Future

New Democratic Party (NDP)