Masse and Cassidy Call on Feds to Increase Incentives for Canadian Electric Vehicles

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Canada should immediately increase the incentive to encourage Canadians to buy electric vehicles to match a proposed US program favoring US-made electric vehicles, Rep. Brian Masse (NDP-Windsor West) said Monday.

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The Biden administration proposed a provision in its Build Back Better bill that would offer Americans at least $ 7,500, and up to $ 12,500, in incentives to purchase American-made electric vehicles.

The bill has Canadian politicians and automotive leaders concerned about what it could mean for Canadian electric vehicles, especially the Windsor-made Chrysler Pacifica.

It cannot be a one-way street from the United States

Masse, who is also the NDP’s critic for industry and international trade, said the federal government should match the proposed US incentives for electric vehicles made in Canada.

“Just like we have in electric vehicle safety and standards, get those incentives increased from $ 5,000 to what matches US, which is $ 7,500 and potentially another $ 5,000, ”Masse said. “Harmonization.”

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Canada currently offers up to $ 5,000 for qualifying electric vehicle purchase incentives, and the Pacifica is the only qualifying vehicle in Canada. He was inducted into the show after lobbying for Masse and Unifor Local 444 in 2019.

Masse was joined by Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy, who said manufacturers are considering these policies when deciding where to put future capital and investments.

“It’s very important that we be front and center in this,” Cassidy said.

There are currently about two dozen models that qualify for a Canadian electric vehicle subsidy, and many of the most popular models are made in the United States, Masse said.

If the United States goes ahead and excludes Canadian EVs from its policy, Canada should consider doing the same for US vehicles.

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“If the United States goes ahead and rules out Canadian vehicles from being eligible for its program, we have to immediately remove American vehicles from our program,” Masse said. “It cannot be a one-way street from the United States.”

Masse wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and raised the issue during question period on Monday. He also called for an emergency meeting of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council.

Both Canada and the United States have committed to using 100% electric vehicles by 2035.

“If our two countries want to get to 2035 for electric vehicles, we have to do it together and if we don’t do it together, we are going to do everything we can,” Masse said.

“The industry has always prospered from harmonization, so that’s what we are asking for.”

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