CCIC & Electric Mobility Canada Urge Ottawa to Triple Charger-Ready Parking in Condos

The Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC) and Electric Mobility Canada (EMC) launched a national campaign at EMC's EVVE 2026 conference in Winnipeg, calling on the federal government to triple the number of EV-ready and charger-equipped parking spaces in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) across Canada.

"Canadians should not need a driveway to benefit from the affordability of driving electric," said Travis Allan, president and CEO of the CCIC, in an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney; Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Julie Dabrusin; Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly; and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson.

The three-part ask

The campaign letter makes three specific requests to Ottawa:

• National target: Set a measurable goal to triple the number of EV-ready and charger-equipped spaces in MURBs.
• Funding program: Create a coordinated federal funding program to support electrical studies, incentivise new construction, and retrofit existing buildings.
• Building codes: Add EV-ready requirements to the National Model Building Code, replicating what B.C. and Quebec have done at the provincial level.

Why MURBs matter

About one-third of Canadian households live in multi-unit residential buildings, where installing a home charger is far more difficult than in a detached house. The groups cite International Energy Agency figures showing that roughly 80 per cent of EV charging in Canada happens at home — meaning that condo and apartment dwellers without charger access are effectively excluded from the cost savings that make EVs attractive.

Clean Energy Canada estimates a typical driver saves between C$23,000 and C$32,000 over 10 years with an EV versus a gasoline vehicle. A separate analysis by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors found that wiring an entire building for charging with an energy management system costs roughly C$4,240 per parking space in net present terms, compared with C$6,290 per space when chargers are added one at a time — a 48 per cent premium for piecemeal installation.

Where the patchwork stands

British Columbia and Quebec are the only provinces with EV-ready legislation. More than 60 municipalities across Canada have their own requirements for new buildings, including 33 in B.C. and 17 in Ontario. There are no EV charger requirements for MURBs at either the provincial or municipal level in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Maritime provinces, or the three territories.

The National Building Code of Canada, issued by the National Research Council, is not enforceable legislation unless adopted by a province or territory — which is why the campaign is pushing for a federal-level standard.

The Electricity Distributors Association, which represents local utilities, backed the goal but noted that funding and planning will need to align with the grid upgrades required to serve new charging demand safely and reliably.

What it means for Canadian condo and apartment dwellers

If the federal government acts on this campaign, the practical effect would be: new MURB construction would be required to include EV-ready electrical infrastructure; existing buildings would gain access to federal retrofit funding; and the patchwork of 60+ municipal bylaws would be replaced by a consistent national baseline. For the roughly one in three Canadians who live in a condo or apartment, that difference between being able to charge at home and being forced to rely on public chargers is the difference between an EV being practical and it being a second car.

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