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I don’t get this argument. Europe makes and exports EVs. Japan and Korea do too. Buy from them if you don’t want something US branded. Build EVs in Canada.
Kind of a tangent, but everytime I read "need a more nuanced..." In regards to regulation, from an industry person or a politician, I can't help but assume they are just trying to create some kind of loophole to massively exploit something they weren't already allowed to
Canada should not be doing business with either country. When we can, we should decouple from both entirely.
No need to make nice with hostile dictatorships. Especially when those hostile dictatorships are constantly attacking our country and citizens on a regular basis.
Buy a bike. Electric cars are not the answer.
Right, a bike. That's going to help me bring all those groceries home, it'll be an okay form of transport when it's raining or -30°C, when I need to go across the city on an errand or appointment, when I need to give someone a lift, when I'm visiting a relative who lives the next city over, and so forth and so on.
I have 4 kids. Comments telling me to put their groceries and hockey gear in a basket are hilarious.
And glossing over the weather with "wear a raincoat" or "wear warm clothing", too. People are aware this is the canada@lemmy.ca community, yes? A lot of Canadian cities get weather where it's downright deadly to be outside for extended periods.
If you enjoy biking and you can make it work for you in your personal circumstances, sure, by all means go ahead and bike. But don't car-shame those who don't.
I lived in Northern Canada for most of my life. -40 to -50 without a wind chill was normal. We put on warm clothes to go outside for extended periods.
I will car shame anyone in a major city with a vehicle. Mass transit exists.
Not even a joke, someone on a bike was struck by a car and killed just a few blocks away from me this very morning; fourth one in the past few years in this area.
"Buy a bike," is such privileged shit, dude. Most people in Canada do not live in a place where bikes are a viable option. I don't have an extra three hours in my day that also puts me at substantially higher risk of bodily harm. If they're not affluent hobbyist the most common bike rider is someone who cannot afford the expense of a vehicle and are exploited much more heavily by our public transport system.
Car dependency is certainly an existential issue that manifests in Canada's city planning, cost of living, and environmental footprint. What you just said, that people's choices are the problem, is exactly the narrative the state and capitalists would like you to subscribe to. It is a systemic issue remedied only by decades of consistent advocacy and action.
Why don't you take a look at the authorities in Canadian territory that have fought tooth and nail to defend system we have for the better part of the last century?
Infrastructure is not the best for cyclists I agree and I dont blame you for feeling unsafe for riding your bike. Everyone has a different threat model though and most Canadians live in large urban areas with large and expanding bike networks that they can take advantage of. That might not mean commuting to work by bike but maybe trips like going to the grocery store or the dentist can be replaced by bike trips.
I do agree that safe cycling infrastructure is one of the largest barriers to getting people on bikes, but let's not pretend that there is some big modern day conspiracy against bike lanes. It's everyday people who fight tooth and nail against every bike lane that is proposed because they will take away parking or driving lanes. Doug Ford might have a personal vendetta against bike lanes but many many people support this vendetta and support Ford because he is trying to remove them.
The rural parts of Canada would like to have a word. A bike ain't gonna cut it unless your young and single and living in a city.
I had a bike living in the rural parts of Canada, and used it to get everywhere within the 50-100 kms I needed to go.
Both economies are too big for that to be feasible.
Canada has a fascist eyeing up on its ass while a pseudo-communist, quasi-state capitalist is giving him the sultry look from across the waters. Not exactly a good position to be in.
We lifted all the tariffs on the US as a "gesture of goodwill" to Big Daddy Trump and yet keep these stupid tariffs on China that are crushing our lumber and agriculture industries into dust out west, in order to protect some token auto industry jobs building gas-guzzling American cars. Feels like we're already the 51st state and Trump is just going to make it official.
The threat of Chinese EVs is absolutely necessary to support for any non traitorous Canadian.
No one has firm plans to make EVs in Canada. The threat can at very least get "best offers" of investment and commitments to Canada that might be better for Canadian economy, even if it helps destroy climate. Cannibalism was always going to be preferred over human sustainability.
Canada benefits from investment. If every other company in the world is too afraid of Trump to invest in Canada, then Canada needs China. The end. Obviously, a trade deal would include an investment deal.
Canada is a giant global auto market equal to UK for 7th place. Measured in over priced vehicles too. Significant boost to Canadian standard of living to have access to better value EVs, which are already better value cars than ICE engine alternatives. Quieter, faster, power your home in emergency, urban life quality for non drivers.
When Canada removed DST, not only did we get zero in return from US government, the tech companies that avoided the tax didn't even show any gratitude with data center or other investments in Canada. ONLY flirting with non US colonies can Canada get any investments (or genuine defense commitments) from US and its colonies.
"No one has firm plans to make EVs in Canada" - Not true, Canada had and still has Lion Electric for example. All Canadian schools should get their buses there. It's a great place for adoption to start. They also had/have trucks. Lack of support from Canada is shameful.
There was a big bet/hope on Honda battery facility. AFAIK, its on hold for perpetuity until Trump doesn't scare Honda anymore, which won't happen, because any future president/US politician will like that Honda is a sycophant to it. Lion counts a little bit, busses actually very important emissions sources, but it's relatively small part of Canadian transportation.
School buses carry 100% of future car buyers and those who experiment EVs don't go back to ICE.
Didn't Lion Electric go bankrupt?
Canada is a large car market. More importantly, vehicles manufactured here will eventually be exported to the US when their policy corrects.
And we will not round up your works in chains like they are doing in the US at the moment (eg. Hyundai).
Once cheap imported EVs is sold in Canada, there's no way for Canada to build its own EV industry, which would remove the demand for batteries to be made in Canada
we are never going to build our own ev industry in time for it make any difference, the only places doing it are incredibly niche small companies making "kei trucks" and buses for public transit, or parts and assembly for foreign companies. and it would take decades for us to achieve a similar quality product that china has right now, if ever, and never at an affordable price in comparison.
the reason everyone isnt driving electric is because we dont have the availability, infrastructure, and pricing that makes it worthwhile.
we can 100% still make batteries and offer alternate solutions with said batteries rather than using them to create our "own ev line" we could make drop in battery/motor conversion kits for instance. for bikes, cars, trucks, buses, whatever you can imagine.
also we could use them to create and maintain municipal public transit, like torontos/vancouvers rental ebikes, except not privately owned. buses are already being converted as well. (looking at you winnipeg)
having locally made batteries will never not be valuable. having additional options and RnD cant hurt.
realistically speaking. theres zero chance we will be able to ever offer a more affordable and similar quality all canadian EV vehicle line up in the next several decades. thats a pipe dream.
but batteries, and the stuff to make them, will only go up in demand. and its possible that domestic batteries some day might be cheaper, if we play our cards right.
Why does Canada tariff them? Do they have domestic production they are protecting?
Canada assembles vehicle for Detroit and Japan. About 400,000 direct and indirect jobs, mostly in Ontario.
I have no idea why we bother to tariff EVs when they barely crack 7 percent in sales and at best may see 25 percent.