Announcement offers no info on implications for off-road sectors, including marine

The government of Canada announced on Tuesday that it intends to end the sale of new passenger vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel engines across the country by the year 2035, while offering no clues on what its planned legislation could mean for other motorised products like recreational boats.

Parliament Hill

Plans by the government of Canada to phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035 have come under immediate criticism, while offering no indication of impacts on other manufacturing segments such as marine

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced yesterday that the Canadian auto industry will have 12 years to phase out cars, trucks and SUVs with internal combustion engines. The proposed legislation will introduce new requirements for automakers to gradually increase the proportion of electric models they offer for sale each year, reaching a level of 100% electric by 2035.

Guilbeault – a former Greenpeace activist who was arrested in 2001 following a stunt in Toronto – came under immediate criticism from opposition parties who say the implementation timeframe for the proposed legislation is unrealistic, citing a lack of infrastructure to support electric vehicles while questioning the ability of Canada’s national power grid to support a sharp increase in EV adoption.

The environment minister was unable to answer questions on the government’s plans for other products utilising internal combustion engines, or implications for the leisure marine, powersports, recreational vehicle, farm equipment, construction equipment, mining and lawn and garden sectors.

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