(OTTAWA, BC) September 15, 2025. As industry leaders meet in Ottawa to discuss the review of Canada’s Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, Merran Smith, President of New Economy Canada spoke about the opportunity of a refined standard to support the auto sector, boost the battery and critical mineral supply chains, and give Canadian drivers more choice.   

Merran Smith, president of New Economy Canada, said:

The global economy is shifting faster than anyone expected. And in all that change, there’s big opportunity.   

Last year, over $3 trillion was invested in clean technologies — twice as much as in fossil fuels. If Canada wants more of those investments and jobs, we need to show we’re serious about building a clean economy. 

That’s why New Economy Canada and our 60 members support a refined Electric Vehicle Availability Standard. It sends the right signal, helps modernize our auto sector, boosts our battery and critical mineral supply chains and gives Canadian drivers more choice.

We’ve already seen it work in B.C. Since introducing an EV mandate in 2019, B.C. drivers have had much better access to electric vehicles, and the province has attracted more investment and jobs. 

This isn’t just about keeping Canada in the game, it’s about skating to where the puck is going and playing to win — for our auto sector, our related industries and Canadian consumers”

About New Economy Canada 
New Economy Canada is a non-partisan initiative uniting over 60 companies, industrial sector associations, as well as labour and Indigenous organizations, all committed to accelerating investment in Canada’s clean economy. Our partners employ or represent over 410,000 workers and generate annual revenues of over $200 billion CAD. 

Media inquiries:
Rebecca Spring, Director of Communications
New Economy Canada
Rebecca.spring@neweconomycanada.ca