Prime Minister Mark Carney rolled out a series of measures on Friday that he says will transform Canada’s economy into a force that can withstand the trade shocks of the Trump administration.
The measures announced in the strategy have been targeted to specifically help workers and businesses that have been most impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade disruptions.
“Canada is building the strongest economy in the G7, one that is less reliant on foreign powers and more resilient in the face of global shocks,” Carney said in a statement.
“In the face of uncertainty around the world, we are ensuring that our workers and businesses will prosper by building Canada’s strength at home.”
A noteworthy part of the plan is to pause the electric vehicle (EV) mandate to meet a demand by the auto industry. The strategy waives the mandate for the 2026 model year and launches a 60-day review of the policy.
The mandate requires the number of new ZEVs (zero-emission vehicles) sold in Canada to hit 20 per cent by next year, 60 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035 in order to help the country hit its emission-reduction targets.
A government release explains that the EV pause and other measures in the strategy will help workers acquire new skills, businesses retool and spur more domestic demand.
The new industrial strategy also includes: