The Peterborough Examiner e-edition

How Ontario can become an EV leader

DANIEL BRETON DANIEL BRETON IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ELECTRIC MOBILITY CANADA.

In September, our organization launched its first zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) scorecard to demonstrate the level of engagement from the 13 provinces and territories of Canada regarding electric vehicle policies. Ontario was only ranked at No. 8.

In addition, while Canadian ZEV sales reached 9.5 per cent during the third quarter of this year, Ontario still lagged behind the national average at 7.6 per cent. Although Ontario has brought in some recent policies that are moving things in the right direction (such as the ultralow price on electricity), a lot of work still needs to be done to make this province a Canadian leader in EV adoption.

Recently, we heard Ontario’s Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli confirm that his government would not add electric vehicle incentives because, as he said, “If you want to buy an electric vehicle today, they’re not made in Canada. They’re not made in Ontario. Soon they will be.”

Actually, Ontario is already making ZEVs right now in Ontario, namely the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, not to mention EV chargers and many other EV components. And, as Fedeli noted, Ontario will soon become a large EV and EV component producer.

An important reason why the Ontario government should support the transition to light, medium, heavy-duty and offroad electric vehicles is how much oil imports are costing the province because Ontario is not an oil producer … and never will be.

According to the Canada Energy Regulator, Ontario produced 500 barrels a day of light oil in 2020 or 3.6 million litres a year, which is less than 0.1 per cent of total Canadian oil production.

According to Statistics Canada, Ontario’s net sales of fuel were close to 14 billion litres of gas and 5.5 billion litres of diesel in 2021. Over 99.9 per cent of the oil used in Ontario for transportation comes from outside the province.

According to a May 2022 Canadian Taxpayers Federation report, Ontarians paid about $1.19 a litre of gas before taxes. This means that Ontarians will pay $16.7 billion for gas plus $6 billion for diesel before tax in 2022. If we subtract 4.7 billion in direct and indirect GDP from the oil refining industry in Ontario, this means that $1.5 billion flees the province every month.

This amount alone should persuade any financially conscious government to support the transition to light, medium, heavy-duty and off-road electric vehicles. It could support the creation of well-paid EVrelated jobs in mining, utilities, infrastructure, assembly, construction, R&D and renewables in Ontario.

But there is more.

In 2022, Health Canada estimated the cost of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) at $3.8 billion and 500 premature deaths in Ontario.

Recently, we have heard Premier Doug Ford say that he would not support ZEV adoption with an incentive, claiming, “I’m not going to give rebates to guys that are buying $100,000 cars — millionaires.” We agree.

The government should not subsidize millionaires who buy $100,000 cars. That’s why we propose Ontario emulate other governments across Canada that propose a cap on EV price eligibility. It wouldn’t even have to be a rebate.

Like the gas tax credit given by the government during the fall economic update to help middle-class Ontarians who struggle with higher gas prices, the Ontario government could offer an EV tax credit to help middle-class Ontarians who struggle with higher EV prices.

Other EV policies, such as infrastructure deployment, consumer education and EV worker training programs, would have a significant impact to accelerate EV adoption and job transition.

Ontario is presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a world leading jurisdiction in the EV world. But for the province to be the leader it could be, it needs to demonstrate that it is as serious on the adoption side as it is on the manufacturing side.

EV adoption policies would be good for Ontario’s economy, its environment and its citizen’s health.

OPINION

en-ca

2022-11-25T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-11-25T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepeterboroughexaminer.pressreader.com/article/281569474737188

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