March 27, 2026
BC Greens Challenge NDP to Maintain Strong EV Mandates as Oil Markets Roil
VICTORIA, B.C. – Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, is calling on the BC Government to hold firm on its EV mandates in light of increasing gas prices across the world and recent comments from Ontario Premier Doug Ford advocating for auto manufacturers’ interests:
“Governments around the world are scrambling right now by releasing hundreds of millions of barrels from strategic reserves and easing restrictions on major oil producers like Russia, who previously had sanctions, in order to stabilize prices. These are short-term fixes to a long-term problem. For every day Trump’s war in the Middle East drags on, the crisis in energy markets is exposed for what it is: a declining oil and gas industry grasping for its last profits.
“I am urging Minister Dix to continue BC’s leadership in EV adoption, and not be buffeted by a recent, temporary dip in EV sales. We acknowledge the reality that 90% of sales by 2030 was an ambitious goal that we are not on track to meet, and that people need more time to become comfortable with EVs. Nonetheless, EV sales in B.C. are up 23% in the last quarter of 2025 without any consumer rebates available.
“Now is the time to invest in the future, continue to improve charging infrastructure and increase our supply of renewable electricity. We ask the Minister to honour the recommendations from the recent CleanBC review with a 50-60% mandate for 2030, and to maintain the 2035 mandate.
“Electric vehicles are one way we can protect British Columbians from the volatile energy market, and are a sustainable, future-proof investment. EVs already cost far less to operate than gas vehicles, and strong mandates ensure more affordable models are available to more families. Analysis from Clean Energy Canada shows a typical EV driver in B.C. saves between $2,600 and $3,400 per year compared to a similar gas vehicle.
At current fuel prices, EV drivers are avoiding about $441 million in gasoline purchases annually—money that would largely leave the province. Instead, about $50–67 million is spent on electricity through publicly-owned BC Hydro, a net saving of about $380 million each year for British Columbians.
“It’s clear: climate policy is affordability policy. Locking oil and gas into our energy systems is locking us into a volatile market that will only get more precarious. The real question isn’t whether we can afford to hold strong on EV policy—It’s whether we can afford not to.”
-30-
Media Contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary
BC Green Caucus
+1-250-882-6187 | Ryan.hook@leg.bc.ca