Ontario drove Carney’s decision to suspend EV mandate: B.C. Energy Minister Dix

VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s energy minister says the federal decision to delay its electric vehicle sales mandate largely reflects circumstances in Ontario, and Ottawa should follow through on a more Canada-wide policy after its review.

Adrian Dix says electric vehicles remain in high demand in B.C., and any new policy should focus on the main barriers to purchases such as affordability and improving charging networks, including in places such as Ontario.

Dix’s comments come after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that the federal government will not implement a mandate requiring that 20 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Canada by next year be electric.

Carney says the suspension of the mandate will come with a 60-day review of the Canadian electric vehicle program to fi