Ontario Premier Doug Ford is asking his counterparts in Quebec and British Columbia to drop their electric-vehicle sales targets, saying they are making the country less competitive.

In the fall, both provinces scaled back or dropped their previous goals of having all new vehicle sales be zero emissions in 2035, but Ford says they should go further.

He says in letters sent today to the premiers that Ontario’s auto sector is an economic driver for the country, employing nearly 100,000 people.

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Ford says that as the United States rolls back its electric vehicle policies, having sales targets and mandates in some Canadian provinces creates a fragmented and uncompetitive environment that pushes investment and production out of the country.

At an unrelated press conference today, Ford expanded on his letter, saying that he is “all about the environment,” but having such emissions rules at this time doesn’t fit with a “Team Canada” approach to dealing with the effects of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Quebec now has a target of making 90 per cent of new vehicle sales hybrid or electric in 2035, and B.C. scrapped its mandate but promised to introduce legislation this year to set new targets.

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Carney scraps EV sales mandate, reinstates buyer incentives

As Ottawa incentivizes Canadians to buy electric vehicles or hybrids, Nova Scotia is making it more expensive to drive them.

Nova Scotia’s budget on Monday includes a $500 fee for electric vehicles and $250 fee for hybrids — to be paid every two years.

Ottawa, meanwhile, has started offering incentives of up to $5,000 to buy electric cars and up to $2,500 for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

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Sal Falk lives in a rural community on Nova Scotia’s South Shore and owns an electric car.

She says the levy is “absurd” and punishes Nova Scotians who have chosen to drive low-emission vehicles.

Provincial officials say the levy ensures electric and hybrid car owners are contributing to road maintenance, as gas-reliant drivers are already contributing to roads through the provincial tax on fuel.

The province estimates the fees will raise $1.6 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year and $3.3 million in 2027-28.