Support Canada’s Electric Vehicle Availability Standard
ADVOCACY ALERT
The federal government is under pressure from industry lobbyists to weaken or delay Canada’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Availability Standard — a policy that sets regulated targets for the sale of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
From a public health perspective, this standard is critical. Transportation emissions are a major source of air pollution, which contributes to asthma in children, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and premature death. According to expert analysis, failing to move forward with strong EV targets could cost thousands of Canadian lives and add billions of dollars in health care expenses over the next three decades.
Every zero-emission vehicle on the road means cleaner air, fewer hospitalizations, and reduced strain on our already overburdened health systems. This is a preventative public health intervention with clear, measurable benefits.
CPHA has written to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, but it will take many voices across the country to make sure the government listens.
Write to your Member of Parliament today and voice your support for maintaining strong EV availability targets.
Here are some points you can raise:
- Preventing chronic illness: Transportation emissions are linked to increased rates of asthma in children, COPD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, and cancer. Reducing emissions prevents disease before it starts.
- Protecting vulnerable populations: Children, older adults, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those living near major roads and highways are disproportionately harmed by vehicle pollution. Strong EV targets reduce inequities.
- Improving mental health and well-being: Cleaner air and quieter streets associated with EV adoption support improved quality of life, reduced stress, and stronger community well-being.
- Strengthening climate resilience: Extreme heat worsens the impacts of air pollution, compounding health risks. By reducing emissions, Canada will lessen combined harms from climate change and air quality.
- Reducing premature deaths: Studies estimate that thousands of premature deaths each year are attributable to traffic-related air pollution. Ambitious ZEV targets will help prevent these avoidable losses.
- Economic productivity: Cleaner air means fewer missed days of school and work due to illness, strengthening Canada’s workforce and economy.
- Cost savings across systems: Beyond direct health care savings, reduced disease burden lowers disability payments, insurance claims, and social care expenditures.
- Global leadership: Implementing strong EV targets demonstrates Canada’s commitment to climate and health leadership, aligning with international best practices and inspiring further action.
- Public support: Polling shows that Canadians increasingly want affordable, cleaner transportation options. Strong ZEV policies respond to this demand while protecting public health.
- A health equity measure: Communities that face structural disadvantage are more likely to live in high-pollution areas. EV targets are part of a just transition that protects the health of those most exposed.