Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Legislation is coming next spring to rethink BC’s effort to drive a major consumer switch to zero-emission vehicles. The stringent targets that were set several years ago by both federal and provincial governments are now considered unreachable, due to changes in the market and dramatic U.S. policy shifts that have created huge instability. Energy Minister Adrian Dix signalled Tuesday he will introduce a bill in the spring to adjust BC’s strategy and align it with federal policy, which is also in the midst of a rethink ... CLICK HERE for the full story

British Columbia’s electric vehicle sales mandates were created with good intentions, but the collision with reality is now obvious. Although we are still in 2025, the 26 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales mandate is already hitting our dealerships. That’s because it applies to the 2026 model year, and many of those models are starting to arrive across the province now. While 26 percent sounds moderate compared to 90 per cent by 2030 or 100 per cent by 2035, as also required by BC law, the facts on the ground are grim 

Billions of dollars have been pledged by Canadian governments over the past few years to lure investment in electric vehicle production. The announcements came with fanfare and bold talk about making Canada a major player in the global EV market. Honda's announcement on Tuesday that its huge investment is being put on hold isn't the only example of a project that has failed to live up to its billing. GM and Northvolt have both called a halt to major EV projects in Canada. Here are the facts on where Canada's EV investments stand ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... In April 2022, 73 per cent of the province’s residents supported the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act. For more than half of British Columbians (53 per cent), the goal established by the provincial government was “achievable.” Over the past nine months, the situation has changed. In October, the provincial government amended the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, effectively phasing-out the sale of gas-powered light-duty cars and trucks by 2035 – five years earlier than originally envisioned. This brought the provincial legislation in tune with the federal government’s own target, giving customers and industries exactly 11 years to “go electric.” When we asked British Columbians about these amendments last week, there is an evident sense of panic from some residents ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Cost of the people who come to visit Debbie Nightingale's Ontario farm are lured in by a chance to get up close and personal with her herd of friendly goats. But some visit for more practical reasons: to charge their electric vehicles. "We have people who come on a regular basis because they know we have these," Nightingale said, gesturing to the two-port EV-charging station she installed last year with the help of a federal tourism recovery grant ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Ashamed to admit it, I somehow missed the news about the global competition to be the first jurisdiction to enshrine in law the requirement to only sell electric vehicles. I didn’t realize there was this planetary race. But there you have it, and we have a winner: The BC NDP government. Its energy, mines and (have to love this title) low carbon innovation minister bragged last week B.C. will be “first in the world” to convert a policy into a law, set a schedule for vehicle sales over the next dozen years, and penalize dealers who dare to sell new gas-guzzlers in 2035 ... CLICK HERE for the full commentary  

The government is encouraging Canadians to switch to EVs and heat pumps to fight climate change. But many CBC News readers have asked: won’t electrifying everything break the grid and drive up energy costs? Here’s what electricity operators and those researching the transition say.  Will it break the grid?   Reports from the International Energy Agency and the Canadian Climate Institute in 2022 found Canada would need to double or triple its electrical grid capacity by 2050 to reach its net-zero goal. It would also need more battery storage and be nimble enough to adjust to peaks in demand from electric vehicles and home heating systems. Otherwise, risks could range from not meeting our climate goals to power outages and other reliability issues ... CLICK HERE to read the full story