Electric Transportation Policy comparison of Ontario’s Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Green parties

The full report is available for download here.

Electric Vehicle Society has compiled this comparison of Ontario political party positions relating to electric transportation. This document is non-partisan and has not been endorsed by any party. Great effort was made to contact the Ontario Conservative, Liberal, NDP, and Green parties via phone and email in order to obtain responses to with respect to our questionnaire regarding electric vehicle policy. Once a party’s response was overdue by ten business days our team compiled information using the party’s website and other campaign media to help outline their commitments and values with respect to the electric vehicle policies.

More than one-third of Ontario’s greenhouse gas pollution is caused by the transportation sector, with cars and trucks responsible for more than seventy per cent of the total.[1] For Ontario to transition to a low carbon economy, deep reductions in transportation emissions are needed. Both plug-in electric hybrids and electric cars have the possibility to reduce emissions over a conventional gasoline car by 67 to 95% when using Ontario clean power.

In this document we outline party support for a wide range of policies that have a direct or indirect impact on supporting electric vehicle adoption in Ontario. In particular, we examine the types of electric vehicle policies each party would implement if elected to government.

Please note: The objective of this document is to highlight each party’s electric vehicle policy support

Summary

Policy Conservatives Liberals NDP Green 1. Electric vehicle purchase incentives Current incentive program is unfair. No clear direction on a fair incentive policy. Range of $5000 – $14,000 with an MSRP cap of $75,000 Commercial truck fleet purchases. Up to $75,000 rebate Will maintain the current electric-vehicle purchase incentive program. Range of $5000 – $14,000 with an MSRP cap and HST exemption 2. Charging – Home & workplace No Policy Details No Policy Details No Policy Details rebates for electric vehicle chargers for single-family homes, multi-unit residential, commercial, and workplaces 3. Charging – Public infrastructure investment (Level 2/3) No Policy Details Continue to fund the installation of more public EV charging stations Public investment for adoption and access throughout the province Will continued in the deployment of public level 2 and level 3 chargers 4. Province wide sales target or ZEV mandate for Manufacturers No Policy Details No Policy Details No Policy Details Implement a Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate for manufacturers 5. Reducing emissions through Cap and Trade Eliminate the Cap and Trade carbon tax program from Ontario. No substitute emission reduction policy given Continue with Cap and Trade. Use this money to continue incentives Support carbon pricing to assist in the transition to a low carbon economy Improve targets for a carbon neutral Ontario in 2050 6. Fleet procurement requirements (Government) No Policy Details No Policy Details No Policy Details 100% Fleet adoption 7. Information and outreach campaigns No Policy Details No Policy Details No Policy Details Supports information and outreach campaigns 8. Non-financial incentives No Policy Details No Policy Details No Policy Details HOV lanes 9. Manufacturing shift from ICE to EV in Ontario Will bring manufacturing jobs back to Ontario. No details on a shift to green manufacturing. the party would invest $50 million in a Transformative Technologies Partnerships Fund to promote continued research into autonomous vehicle technology make Ontario a leader in the development and manufacturing of driverless technology, hybrid and electric vehicles incentives for businesses investing in energy efficient and low carbon equipment, buildings and vehicle fleets

Vehicle purchase incentives reduce the cost of electric vehicles. The most common types of incentives are rebates and tax exemptions/adjustments. There is currently a rebate of up to $14,000 for the purchase of new electric vehicles with MSRPs below $75,000.

Government Support for Electric Vehicle Incentives

Party Policy Details Conservative No clear direction on incentives “We recognize Ontarians are increasingly looking toward more environmentally-friendly options to get from point A to point B, including electric vehicles. However, the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program is unfair to taxpayers and not part of the solution.” [Source: Doug Ford Campaign. May 2018. ] “One thing the PC Party has been clear about is their plan to eliminate the Liberal’s carbon cap-and-trade program which, as mentioned, is the source of funds for Ontario’s current electric-vehicle purchase incentives – the most generous in Canada. The PCs say scrapping cap-and-trade would also let it cut 4.3 cents off the cost of a litre of gasoline.” [Source: The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election. May 2018][3] Liberal Maintain the current range of $5000 – $14,000 with an MSRP cap of $75,000 “The Liberals say the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-Carbon Economy Act of 2016 – commonly termed “cap and trade” – helped raise $2.4 billion in 2017–2018, and is expected to bring in another $2 billion in 2018–2019. That money will continue to fund the province’s electric vehicle lease and purchase incentives, and the installation of more public EV charging stations.” [Source: The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election. May 2018] NDP Will maintain the current electric-vehicle purchase incentive program. “The Ontario NDP supports evidence-based initiatives to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, including regulations, public investments and incentives to facilitate the adoption of electric and zero-emission vehicles as well as access to charging infrastructure throughout the province.” [Source: Response] “An NDP spokesperson said simply that the party will “maintain the current electric-vehicle purchase incentive program.” [Source: The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election. May 2018] Green Maintain the current range of $5000 – $14,000 with an MSRP cap “Supports the purchase of electric vehicles through a rebate program for purchasing electric vehicles with a cap on the vehicle purchase price.” [Source: Response]

Government support for HST exemptions or adjustments for the purchase of electric vehicles

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details given Liberal Part of the Climate Change Action Plan program for 2018. No comments on continuing this initiative after the election. NDP No details or policy presented Green “Support HST exemptions on the purchase of electric vehicles.” [Source: Response]

Home and workplace charging infrastructure provide electric vehicle owners with reliable access to charging at their homes and workplaces, where most of charging occurs.

Rebates for the purchase and installation of chargers in existing buildings and workplaces.

Government Support for home and workplace charging infrastructure

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details given Liberal No Policy Details given. NDP No Policy Details given Green “Development of supportive infrastructure for electric vehicles across the province by moving towards installing charging stations at all public buildings, ensuring municipalities identify and remove barriers to their adoption, fund charging stations, and requiring condominiums to provide facilities that allow residents to plug in electric vehicles.” [Source: Response]

Public charging infrastructure investment provides electric vehicle drivers with access to charging away from home. The most common types of charging infrastructure investments are in Level 2 chargers, which can fully charge a vehicle in 3-8 hours, or Level 3/DC fast chargers, which can charge a vehicle in about 30 minutes. Level chargers 2 are typically deployed within city or town boundaries (e.g. community centers, malls, retail), while DC fast chargers are typically deployed within cities/towns and also on highways to facilitate long distance travel.

Government support for expanding urban and highway charging

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details given Liberal Continue to fund the installation of more public EV charging stations “Low-Carbon Economy Act of 2016… will continue to fund …the installation of more public EV charging stations” [Source: The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election. May 2018] NDP Public investment for adoption and access throughout the province “The Ontario NDP supports evidence-based initiatives to reduce emissions from the transportation sector: public investments to facilitate the adoption of electric and zero-emission vehicles as well as access to charging infrastructure throughout the province.” [Source: Response] Green Will continued in the deployment of public level 2 and level 3 chargers “The Green Party of Ontario plans to add more charging stations along 400 series highways as quickly as possible.” [Source: Response]

Public Province Wide Sales Target – The current Climate Change Action Plan outlines a provincial target of low emissions (Electric and Hydrogen based) vehicle sales instead of a Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate. The current goal is to increase total sales of low emissions vehicles in Ontario to 5% of all light duty vehicles by 2020 (Estimated 34,000 sold that year)

Government support for Province wide sales target or manufacturer mandate of zero emissions vehicles

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details given Liberal No Policy Details. NDP No Policy Details Green Implement a Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate for manufacturers “The Green Party supports setting a target date for phasing out internal combustion engines in Ontario so that Ontario can meet a target of being carbon neutral by 2050. As an interim measure, we would raise the average fuel economy emission standards for all cars and trucks to encourage the market for more fuel-efficient vehicles.” [Source: Response]

Reducing Emissions through cap and trade: The current Climate Change Action Plan allows the free market to set a value on carbon emissions. At present, the Ontario Government has set targets at a 15% reduction by 2020 and 37% by 2030.

Party Policy Details Conservative “The people of Ontario can’t afford a carbon tax in whatever name or form. Not now. Not ever. The Ontario PCs will scrap Kathleen Wynne’s cap-and-trade carbon tax, and fight any effort by Justin Trudeau and the Federal Government to impose a carbon tax on the people of Ontario.” [Source: Ontario PC website. April 2018][4] Liberal The Liberals say the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-Carbon Economy Act of 2016 – commonly termed “cap and trade” – helped raise $2.4 billion in 2017–2018, and is expected to bring in another $2 billion in 2018–2019. “Today’s auction results are proof our plan to cap GHGs from business is working. It guarantees reductions at the cheapest price possible for people and economy and reinvests every dollar collected. Bottom line: when polluters pay, people benefit from green investments and cleaner air. With six successful auctions, Ontario families are already saving money thanks to… NDP “Support carbon pricing, as well as regulations and investments that will help Ontario families and businesses make the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy.” [Source: Response] Green “We will improve targets for Ontario to put us on a path to be carbon neutral by 2050.” [Source: Response]

Work with electric vehicles stakeholders, such as electric utilities, electric vehicle manufacturers, not for profits and charging service providers, to further promote electric vehicles through the regulation

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details Liberal No Policy Details NDP No Policy Details Green “Bold action is needed to reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change, including eliminating combustion engines and promoting electric vehicles.” [Source: Response]

Fleet procurement requirements – Ontario’s current vehicle fleet has reduced emissions by 18% since 2006. Also, the Ontario Climate Change Action Plan has committed to making Ontario Public Servant vehicles zero emissions whenever possible.

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details Liberal No Policy Details NDP No Policy Details Green 100% Fleet adoption. “We support fleet electrification with funding for the public and private sector to purchase electric vehicles, install charging facilities and share their implementation models with each other to ensure that Ontario is the leading electric vehicle jurisdiction in the world.” [Source: Response]

Information and outreach campaigns educate the public about electric vehicles and charging and include public-sponsored advertising, consumer outreach, informational websites, and vehicle labeling.

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details Liberal No Policy Details NDP No Policy Details Green The Green Party of Ontario supports information and outreach campaigns, including on the benefits of electric vehicle rebate programs, HST elimination on zero emission vehicles, the location of free overnight vehicle charging stations, as well as charging stations on provincial property. We will also introduce educational funds for learning by doing, allowing colleges and universities to build their own renewable energy and electric vehicle charging facilities and use them to make money, lower bills, and to create practical living laboratories for their students and teachers. [Source: Response]

Non-financial incentives offer other benefits to consumers including unrestricted access to lanes reserved for high-occupancy vehicles (HOV).

Party Policy Details Conservative No Policy Details Liberal No Policy Details NDP No Policy Details Green “Support efforts to encourage the electrification of transportation in Ontario as quickly as possible.” [Source: Response]

Develop a policy to shift subsidies from the manufacture of internal combustion drivelines to electric motor and battery manufacturing within Ontario.

Party Policy Details Conservative “An Ontario PC Government will take immediate action to Create Good Jobs, including bringing manufacturing jobs back to Ontario.” [Source: Ontario PC website. 2018.][6] “Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives haven’t made any promises specific to the province’s auto-manufacturing industry, but Ford has said that if elected, his party will cut red tape and leave a carbon tax off the table in a bid to attract manufacturing jobs to Ontario.” [Source: The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election. May 2018] Liberal “The Liberal platform also states that over the next 10 years, the party would invest $50 million in a Transformative Technologies Partnerships Fund to promote continued research into autonomous vehicle technology, work that the Liberals say would contribute in part to retaining 3,600 “high value” jobs and attract $1 billion in investment.” [Source: The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election. May 2018] NDP “Our vision is to make our province a leader in the development and manufacturing of driverless technology, hybrid and electric vehicles and ensure Ontario consumers can buy made-in-Ontario vehicles that meet the highest standards.” [Source: Response] Green “A Green government will aim to phase out internal combustion engines in Ontario so that Ontario can meet a carbon neutral target by 2050. We will support incentives for businesses investing in energy efficient and low carbon equipment, buildings and vehicle fleets.” [Source: Response]

Additional notes on policy support from the parties

Party Policy Details Conservative “We recognize Ontarians are increasingly looking toward more environmentally-friendly options to get from point A to point B, including electric vehicles. However, the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program is unfair to taxpayers and not part of the solution. As part of the Wynne Liberals’ Cap and Trade slush fund, those purchasing $180,000 electric cars are receiving thousands of dollars in rebates. The days of taxing hard-working people to subsidize expensive electric cars are over. A Doug Ford PC Government will put money back in people’s pockets.” [source: Twitter – Doug Ford Campaign][7] Liberal Federal Liberals: “Transportation accounts for roughly 25 per cent of Canada’s GHG emissions, with cars and light trucks making up nearly half of the sector’s total. Ottawa and the provinces are putting in place a raft of measures to reduce emissions, including carbon prices, fuel efficiency standards, zero-emission vehicle policies and a clean fuel standard.…Under the Liberal government plan, carbon taxes would rise to $50 a tonne by 2022 – roughly 11 cents per litre of gasoline…As well, the federal government is developing a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) strategy which would complement electric-vehicle subsidies offered by Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.” [Source: The Globe and Mail. Jan 2018.][8] NDP “Only the NDP has a plan to tackle climate change in a manner that is equitable for all Ontarians. The NDP has long been a strong voice for both environmental sustainability and fairness. We believe the transition to a green, low-carbon economy must be a fair one, so we don’t leave communities behind, and so all of us can realize the benefits.” [Source: Response] Green “The Green Party of Ontario supports the electrification of our transportation system. We aim to provide incentives for businesses investing in electric vehicles and a business environment that would allow the market of electric vehicles to grow, and for individuals to make the switch to low carbon transportation options.” [Source: Response]

[1] Transportation: Becoming a North American leader in low-carbon and zero-emission transportation. 2017. Available from the Government of Canada – https://www.ontario.ca/page/climate-change-action-plan#section-5

[2] Doug Ford Campaign. May 2018.

[3] The Driver’s Guide to the 2018 Ontario Election’. May 2018. http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/newsfeatures/20180524/the-driver-s-guide-to-the-2018-ontario-election/

[4] ‘STATEMENT FROM ONTARIO PC LEADER DOUG FORD ON THE CARBON TAX’ Ontario PC website. April 2018

https://www.ontariopc.ca/statement_from_ontario_pc_leader_doug_ford_on_the_carbon_tax

[5] ‘Doug Ford Has No Plan to Fight Climate Change’ Ontario Liberal Website. 2018. https://www.ontarioliberal.ca/news/5b05f6739b36dd4a94eaea6c?l=EN

[6] ‘DOUG FORD PLEDGES TO BRING JOBS BACK TO ONTARIO’ Ontario PC website. 2018. https://www.ontariopc.ca/doug_ford_pledges_to_bring_jobs_back_to_ontario

[7] Twitter – Doug Ford Campaign

[8] ‘Significant hike to carbon prices necessary to achieve emissions targets, study finds’ The Globe and Mail. Jan 2018. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/significant-hike-to-carbon-prices-necessary-to-acheive-emissions-targets-study-finds/article37676745/