The Prime Minister of Canada and his Ontario counterpart announced millions of dollars in subsidies for the production of hybrid vehicles in Canada, but Doug Ford dodged questions about the possibility of incentives to buy these vehicles.
Posted yesterday at 4:51 p.m.
Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford were in Alliston, Ont., on Wednesday morning to officially announce the $131.6 million each government has pledged to pay Honda Canada for assembly line modifications at a plant in Ontario, which will will eventually build the 2023 CR-V and CR-V Hybrid vehicles.
Both Premiers agreed that this project would help protect good jobs in the local auto sector.
“These investments will allow Honda Canada to build its next-generation models, such as hybrids, here in Ontario and then sell them across North America,” said Ford. This means that the cars of tomorrow will be built right here, by Ontario workers, using Ontario resources. »
Honda Canada said the retooling of the Alliston plant will cost $1.4 billion over six years.
Trudeau said projects like Honda’s would help create jobs and support a lasting economic recovery in the country after the pandemic.
No purchase discounts
Premier Ford has already said he wants to accelerate the manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles in Ontario. Last year, his government announced a 10-year plan to make more batteries, vehicles and parts in Ontario, train more auto workers and eventually extract minerals in northern Ontario.
But the Progressive Conservative government has never committed to offering incentives, such as rebates, to encourage consumers to buy these vehicles.
Mr. Ford even canceled, after his election in 2018, a rebate of up to $ 14,000 for buyers of electric vehicles put in place by the former Liberal government – he then called this incentive a support for the rich. Sales of electric vehicles then plummeted in Ontario.
When asked on Wednesday whether he would bring back the discount, Mr Ford did not answer directly, although he suggested his government’s move had boosted sales. “Since we’ve been in power, electric vehicle sales have tripled (in Ontario), so I guess that was a good move,” he said Wednesday.
Charging stations
The Progressive Conservatives, once elected, also halted construction of electric vehicle charging stations. Mr Ford said on Wednesday that his government was building road infrastructure and would continue to add charging stations “as the market demands”.
Opposition parties in Queen’s Park, which are preparing for a general election in early June, have pledged to restore discounts for shoppers.
The Liberals promised Wednesday to give families rebates of up to $8,000 for the purchase or lease of a “zero-emission vehicle” and $1,500 for the purchase of charging equipment. They also promise more public charging stations, thanks to a 30% subsidy for this infrastructure.
The Greens promise to offer cash incentives of up to $10,000 to buyers of electric vehicles, and low-cost financing for those vehicles. They also promise to expand charging infrastructure in Ontario.