policy
Only 35% of Canadians Supported EV Sales Quotas — the Poll Behind the Mandate Repeal
A federal Ekos Research poll of 3,035 Canadians finds just 35% supported the 100% zero-emission vehicle sales mandate, with 49% opposed and opposition peaking at 63% in Alberta. The survey, commissioned by Natural Resources Canada for $70,759, surfaced weeks before Cabinet served notice of repeal on Aug. 15.
The numbers behind Canada's EV mandate repeal are now public. An in-house federal poll commissioned by the Department of Natural Resources found only 35% of Canadians supported a sales mandate requiring all new vehicles to be zero-emission by a future date — with 49% opposed nationwide. The findings, first reported by Blacklock's Reporter, were collected before Prime Minister Mark Carney reversed course on the electric vehicle mandates he had previously supported in the Commons.
What the poll actually asked
The survey, conducted by Ekos Research Associates between Jan. 5 and 26 with 3,035 respondents nationwide, tested support for the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard — the regulation that required 20% of all new vehicles sold in Canada to be zero-emission beginning with the 2026 model year, rising to 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
- 35% supported a sales mandate ensuring all new vehicles sold must be zero-emission by a future date
- 49% opposed the 100% zero-emission requirement for new cars and light-duty trucks
- 12% had no opinion
- Only 16% said they "strongly supported" the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard
Where opposition was strongest
Opposition was heaviest west of Ontario — the region where the mandate's political cost was highest. By province and region:
- Alberta: 63% opposed
- Saskatchewan and Manitoba: 57% opposed
- British Columbia: 51% opposed — including a majority of B.C. drivers, where the Liberals held 20 seats
- Atlantic Canada: 49% opposed
- Ontario: 48% opposed
- Québec: 39% opposed
Why Canadians hesitated: cold, range, and grid worries
Beyond the quota question, the survey documents the perceptions that shaped responses. Some 58% of respondents complained electric cars "perform poorly in cold weather," and an equal share said zero-emission vehicles "can't travel far enough on a full charge." Half — 50% — worried that mass EV adoption would put too much pressure on the electric grid, while 43% agreed that charging at home would significantly increase their monthly electricity bill.
Purchase intent remained soft: only 34% of respondents said they had considered purchasing or leasing a zero-emission vehicle. The share who said they would "never buy a zero-emission vehicle" ranged from 6% in B.C. to 29% in Alberta. Researchers summarized the split: most Canadians believe zero-emission vehicles benefit the environment, but a clear majority view them as too expensive.
The timeline from poll to repeal
The Ekos fieldwork ran Jan. 5-26. The survey cost $70,759, paid by the Natural Resources department. A week after the results, the Prime Minister announced the repeal of the mandate, and Cabinet served the required legal notice of repeal on Aug. 15 — closing the loop between the polling data and the policy reversal.
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