Policy
Proven, ready-to-deploy climate actions that “multi-solve”.
Federal
In 2024, the Government of Canada passed the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard. The EV standard alone is projected to result in cumulative carbon reduction impacts estimated at 362 megatonnes, and health benefits measuring $90 billion. Maintaining this regulation is vital for Canadian’s health and access to the global electric vehicle market.
Strengthen the Clean Electricity Regulation.
Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations require phasing out natural gas as a power source starting in 2035. Removing gas from the electricity system supports economy-wide electrification and reduces the health impacts of fossil fuel extraction, transmission, and combustion. A robust CER will help avoid stranded assets and help to provide clear frameworks to support decision-making at the provincial, territorial, and municipal levels.
Specific Actions
- Ensure a limited future role for emitting generation, such as natural gas, emergency use for grid stability as a last resort.
- Enforce guardrails limiting emissions and establishing a clear pathway to a net-zero grid.
- Use the Regulation to deter investment in new or upgraded gas-fired power generation intended for baseload use.
Develop the interprovincial electricity grid.
Interprovincial electricity grids that connect provincial and territorial power systems through a shared transmission network would enable electricity to flow freely across borders, unlock clean energy potential, reduce emissions, and save billions in capital costs. It would also improve reliability, support electrification, and bolster energy security. Overcoming regulatory and infrastructure barriers will require federal leadership—but the result is a more affordable, efficient, and resilient grid.
Specific Actions
- Support provinces in establishing East-West grid connections and municipalities and utilities in upgrading local distribution infrastructure to facilitate development and deployment of distributed solar, wind and storage resources.
- Invest in cost effective peak demand response and management through energy storage and energy efficiency.
Invest in electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure.
The federal government plays a critical role in accelerating EV adoption and infrastructure by providing funding, setting national standards and sales targets, coordinating across jurisdictions, and ensuring equitable access.
Specific Actions
- Maintain the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard.
- Harmonize criteria to allow import of European Union certified EVs.
- Eliminate or reduce tariffs on Chinese EVs.
- Provide incentives for EV charging infrastructure, including for comprehensive EV-ready planning and retrofits in existing multi-family buildings.
- Provide EV purchase incentives via a multi-year program, with a clear schedule for phasing them out.
- Restart federal consultations on the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Standard.
Accelerate net-zero new construction.
The federal government plays a strategic role in decarbonizing Canada’s buildings by setting national standards, funding retrofits and innovation, and driving market transformation through procurement and policy.
Specific Actions
- Update the National Model Building Code with timelines that support the eventual phaseout of gas-fired equipment.
- Update Canada’s Appliance and Equipment Standards under the Energy Efficiency Act to progressively phase out the sale of new gas-fired equipment.
- Mandate that all housing supported by Build Canada Homes (BCH) is designed to the highest tiers of the National Model Building Code or an approved equivalent standard, such as Passive House or the Toronto Green Standard Tier 2+.
- Recapitalize the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative to continue growing the industry capacity and local expertise needed to support retrofit planning, implementation and financing across Canada.
- Recapitalize successful retrofit funding programs that have or will soon run out of funds, including the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan programs and the Canada Greener Affordable Housing Program for affordable housing providers.
- Incentivize and harmonize prefabricated housing certification across all provinces and municipalities, using CSA A277 as the standard and basis for permitting and pre-approved repeatable designs.