In Canada no province or territory is currently planning to stop all gas powered car sales within the next five years. However the federal government and several provinces have introduced ambitious plans that will completely reshape how Canadians buy cars in the next decade. Instead of an immediate ban the strategy focuses on phasing out the sale of new gas powered light duty vehicles by 2035 with a series of targets along the way. While you will still be able to own and drive a gasoline vehicle after these dates the choices for new models will shift dramatically toward electric and hydrogen powered alternatives.
Canada’s Nationwide Zero Emission Sales Mandate
The federal government has laid out a nationwide timeline that will apply to all provinces. By 2026 at least 20 percent of new vehicles sold in Canada must be zero emission. By 2030 that requirement jumps to 60 percent and by 2035 the target reaches 100 percent. This applies specifically to new light duty vehicles which include passenger cars and small trucks. The mandate does not remove existing gas powered vehicles from the road but instead ensures that all new models after 2035 are electric or hydrogen powered. The federal plan is designed not only to lower greenhouse gas emissions but also to push automakers to increase their EV production for the Canadian market. Many experts point out that these interim targets will be just as significant as the final 2035 deadline because they force gradual change rather than a sudden switch.
Quebec’s Accelerated Ban
Quebec has taken an even stricter approach compared to the rest of the country. The province has passed legislation that bans both new and used gas powered light duty vehicle sales starting with the 2035 model year. Beginning in 2034, no new model year vehicles that rely on combustion engines, including hybrids, will be allowed. By the end of 2035 the rule extends to prevent even earlier model gasoline vehicles from being resold through dealerships. Quebec was also the first Canadian province to implement a system of mandatory zero emission sales quotas for automakers. These quotas started at 15 percent in 2020 and increase steadily until reaching full compliance by 2035. This means Quebec residents will see EV adoption accelerate more quickly than in many other provinces. Quebec’s plan is widely seen as one of the most aggressive in North America and it sets the tone for other jurisdictions that are considering similar legislation.
British Columbia’s Zero Emission Vehicle Act
British Columbia was the first jurisdiction in the world to pass a law requiring automakers to sell a growing percentage of zero emission vehicles. The province has set clear targets with 26 percent of new car sales required to be electric by 2026. That number climbs to 90 percent by 2030 and finally 100 percent by 2035. Originally British Columbia had aimed for 2040 but the provincial government accelerated its deadline to match the federal timeline and to stay aligned with Quebec. This shift means that British Columbia residents will see some of the fastest adoption rates of EVs in Canada especially since the province already has one of the highest percentages of EV ownership nationwide. The Zero Emission Vehicle Act also requires manufacturers to supply enough EVs to meet demand which prevents automakers from restricting allocations of popular electric models.
The Broader Canadian Context
While Quebec and British Columbia are the leaders in this transition the nationwide mandate means that all provinces and territories must comply by 2035. Provinces like Ontario Alberta and Manitoba have not introduced their own accelerated timelines but the federal standards will still apply. This means that automakers must provide enough zero emission vehicles to every province no matter the local government’s stance. Canadians in rural areas or provinces with fewer EV incentives may see slower adoption at first but as automakers scale up production the choice of available gas powered models will shrink everywhere. Importantly none of these bans apply to vehicles already on the road. Owners of gas powered vehicles will still be able to drive maintain and even sell their cars privately. What changes is the new car market which will transition entirely to electric and hydrogen vehicles.
Why These Plans Matter
For consumers these changes mean planning ahead. Buying a new gas powered vehicle in the late 2020s may still be possible but by the mid 2030s those options will disappear. For automakers the mandates are already driving investments in new factories battery production facilities and charging infrastructure across Canada. For example companies like Stellantis and Volkswagen are building major battery plants in Ontario and federal incentives are being offered to support this shift. For the environment the goal is to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation which is one of the largest contributors to Canada’s carbon footprint.
A Snapshot of Canada’s Timeline
By 2026 at least one in five new vehicles sold across Canada must be zero emission. By 2030 that number increases to six out of ten. By 2035 every new car or light truck sold in Canada must be zero emission. Quebec is even more aggressive with its ban on both new and used gas powered light duty vehicles starting in 2035 while British Columbia is holding firm on its 2035 timeline but with a sharper ramp up in earlier years. Other provinces will follow the federal timeline but could adopt stricter laws in the future depending on political and consumer pressures.
Canadian Plans
Canada is not planning to eliminate gas powered vehicles from its roads within five years but the shift is underway. The combination of federal mandates Quebec’s aggressive legislation and British Columbia’s leadership ensures that the auto market will look very different within the next decade. Automakers are preparing for that future now which means Canadians will soon have far more choice in electric and hydrogen vehicles than ever before. For drivers who prefer gasoline cars the message is clear—enjoy them while you can because the clock is ticking.
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