ANALYSIS: EV Projects Promise Thousands of Jobs, but Governments Are Spending Tens of Billions to Get Them

The Honda electric vehicle (EV) project announced on April 25 is the largest automotive investment in Canadian history, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Meanwhile, concerns have arisen over government subsidies for EV production totalling billions along with the involvement of foreign workers and a declining demand for EVs. Since 2020, the federal government along with the provinces particularly Ontario and Quebec have provided tens of billions of dollars in subsidies for EV and EV battery manufacturing plants. Ottawa’s goal is to have all new light-duty vehicles sold in Canada, namely passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks, be zero-emission by 2035. So far, governments in Canada have worked with companies on four major projects to build EVs and EV parts, including large investments in battery technologies....