Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin says the federal mandate requiring all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035 includes built-in flexibility, despite repeated government claims the target is mandatory.“The regulation remains in place,” Dabrusin told the Commons, but added, “we are certainly looking at monitoring,” without offering specifics.Blacklock's Reporter says the remarks came during repeated questioning by Conservative MP Dan Mazier, who pressed the minister to clarify whether the 2035 goal was mandatory or optional..Dabrusin avoided giving a direct yes or no answer, instead emphasizing that the regulation “sets us towards a target” and noting that “there are also flexibilities built within that regulation.”The federal government has pledged that 100% of new light-duty car and passenger truck sales be zero-emission by 2035. But mounting challenges to affordability and supply, including the recent suspension of a $5,000 federal rebate for new electric vehicles, have prompted manufacturers to question the mandate’s feasibility.British Columbia, which was the first province to launch electric vehicle rebates, also announced on May 15 it would end its $4,000 incentive program. Industry groups have since petitioned cabinet to revisit or repeal the mandate in light of the reduced consumer support..The transportation sector accounts for 27% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to Dabrusin, who insisted the government is committed to climate goals while also defending Canadian auto workers in response to recent U.S. tariffs on electric vehicles.The 2035 electric vehicle target remains a key part of the government’s climate strategy, though the Minister’s comments signal the policy may be more adaptable than previously stated.
