Strengthen the Clean Electricity Regulations to ensure a net-zero grid by 2035.

Clean Electricity Regulations should:

• Maintain a strong and stringent regulation that will limit emissions and achieve net-zero
• Support market reform and the adoption of new and emerging technologies

• A robust CER will help avoid stranded assets and costs to rate payers
• Removing gas from the electricity system is an important part of fuel switching the entire energy system away from fossil fuels dramatically impacting the health of Canadians.

Invest in EV-readiness in existing apartments and condos

Current funding programs for multi-family buildings support the cost of installing EV chargers, but not the cost of electrical work required to make the building EV-ready. Focused support should:

• Provide funding and/or financing supports for planning and undertaking comprehensive EV-ready retrofits in existing multi-family buildings

One third of Canadians live in condos and apartment buildings.

Supporting electrification in these buildings will dramatically reduce carbon emissions, improve health (particularly in older buildings needing upgrades) and reduce costs by eliminating gas bills for residents while at the same time supporting the gradual shift to EVs.

Accelerate transportation electrification through Zero Emissions Vehicle targets

• Finalize the ZEV sales mandate for light duty vehicles
• Develop a ZEV sales mandate for medium and heavy-duty vehicles
• Work with industry to ensure development of the charging infrastructure necessary to achieve ZEV sales mandate.

Vehicle electrification is key to Canada’s climate goals, and offers enormous public health benefits through reduced air pollution.

Providing policy certainty around the pace of the transition is critical to mobilizing investment in charging infrastructure, grid readiness, and the manufacturing of EVs and related supply chain components.

Use federal regulations to restrict the use of gas-fired heating equipment

• Restrict the use of fossil gas heating equipment in new construction
• Require all new central air conditioners to have heating capabilities (i.e. be heat pumps). See specifics from Efficiency Canada’s 2023 report “The Cool Way to Heat Homes”..
• Establish a 2030 timeline for phasing out the sale of fossil-gas fired heating and hot water equipment

A growing number of countries have passed regulations phasing out gas fired heating equipment, as has the province of BC.

Policy certainty is needed to allow manufacturers, distributors and installers prepare for the transition to electric heat pumps and other non-fossil alternatives.

Clear regulatory signals will also limit investment in stranded assets and ensure decarbonization happens in the most cost-effective way possible –at time of construction or HVAC replacement. Heat pumps also provide high efficiency cooling, which protects the health of Canadians during increasingly frequent extreme heat events.