Latest news with #TransportCanada
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Lowering Confederation Bridge toll at the top of P.E.I. Premier's list when meeting with Prime Minister
Prince Edward Island's Confederation Bridge is seen on May 31, 2022. (CTV Atlantic) Lowering the Confederation Bridge toll is at the top of Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz's list when he meets with Prime Minister Mark Carney next week. Lantz will travel to Ontario for the First Ministers' Meeting and Council of the Federation from July 21 to 23. 'First and foremost, I will be speaking directly with Prime Minister Carney and his team about the immediate need to follow through on their promise to lower the tolls on the Confederation Bridge to $20 and reduce the Wood Islands Ferry tolls by half,' he said in a news release Friday. Carney said he would lower the tolls during his election campaign in April. Currently, the Confederation Bridge toll is $50.25. Lantz said he also intends to bring up recent issues with the new MV Northumberland and will ask that Transport Canada officials 'monitor the situation closely.' 'It is imperative that we have a consistent, two-vessel ferry service throughout the season to support our economy and maintain confidence in our transportation infrastructure,' said Lantz. The meetings bring together all of Canada's premiers from each of the 13 provinces and territories. 'It enables Premiers to work collaboratively, form closer ties, foster constructive relationships among governments, and show leadership on important issues that matter to Canadians,' reads a news release from the Council of the Federation. Lantz said he also hopes to work with his colleagues to continue to break down internal trade barriers, explore new trading partnerships and increase labour mobility throughout the country. 'With ongoing uncertainty in our trade relationship with the United States, it is more important than ever that we strengthen our domestic economic ties and work together to explore new markets for our products and services around the world,' said Lantz. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Open the door to cheaper electric vehicles from Europe, advocates urge
TORONTO – The federal government has stopped the world's cheapest electric vehicles — made in China — from coming into Canada with a 100 per cent tariff, so advocates are pushing to make it easier for automakers to bring in cheaper ones from Europe. 'Right now, there is a blockage, saying that for safety reasons they cannot let these cars in,' said Daniel Breton, head of Electric Mobility Canada. He's pushing to have the federal government rule that EVs deemed safe by European regulators don't need to be re-certified and modified for Canadian standards. The potentially costly process can be a barrier to bringing more compact and affordable EVs to the Canadian market, though demand might be the bigger hurdle. 'Right now Transport Canada is saying, well, we have to change the bumpers and we have to change the headlights and this and that for safety reasons, which, as far as I'm concerned is total B.S.,' said Breton. 'If the car is good enough to be driving on European roads, where you can drive much faster than here, don't come and tell me that they're not safe enough to be driven in Canada.' Attempts to lower the barriers to cheaper vehicles comes as EV sales have been disrupted by the abrupt end of government rebate programs, while tariffs and U.S. moves to end EV supports and mandates are further destabilizing the market. Breton said that allowing a more open flow of vehicles from Europe would fit in well with a push to strengthen and diversify trade ties with the region, as Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he hopes to do, but Transport Canada says it's not so simple. 'The certification requirements of other jurisdictions may not be sufficient to meet the safety needs of Canadian road users due to Canada's distinct driving environment,' said spokesman Hicham Ayoun in an email. He said Canadian test standards are better suited for the road infrastructure, speed limits and larger vehicle sizes found on Canadian roadways. 'Some European crash testing requirements are not as stringent as the Canadian regime due to differences in their driving environment.' While Breton said the idea that European testing is deficient is ridiculous, there is also the question of how much demand there would be for the vehicles. As Transport Canada pointed out, Canadians like big cars and trucks. So much so that a few years ago the International Energy Agency found Canadian vehicles were the largest and second heaviest in the world, resulting in the worst fuel efficiency rating globally. Automakers know that and could be hesitant to bring in smaller cars, said Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. 'European EVs are tailored for the European market, and those models don't convert very well to the U.S. and Canada,' he said. 'The small cars that Canadians appreciate are on the fringes — there aren't too many of them.' But even if the potential market isn't much bigger than the cars themselves, Breton said there's still demand from anyone ranging from downtown drivers to households looking to make their second car an EV. He pointed to the Smart EV his wife drives, which is no longer available in Canada. 'If today her vehicle was scrapped, she couldn't find anything on the market, except for the Fiat 500e. But that's it. That's not choice.' The Fiat is the cheapest EV available in Canada, with a base price of $42,290 (though the company is currently offering more than $4,000 in discounts) for an advertised 227-kilometre range. The Nissan Leaf is the nearest competitor, starting at a selling price of $44,596 for a 240-kilometre range. But there are numerous other compact models that aren't available here. Volkswagen sells its ID.4 in Canada, but not the ID.3 that can retail for some 20 per cent less, and Nissan doesn't sell its more affordable Micra model, while other European brands with compact EVs like Citroen, Opel and Peugeot don't sell in Canada at all. Sales numbers for the available compact options aren't high, with Stellantis selling 1,275 of its Fiat 500e model last year, compared with more than 62,000 under its Ram brand and more than 40,000 for Jeep. But the market also needs choice to grow and fewer barriers to entry, said Breton. There does seem to be support for at least the idea of bringing cheaper EVs from Europe, according to a poll released last month from Clean Energy Canada. The results from 2,585 Canadians showed 70 per cent were in favour of allowing European-approved EVs into Canada, with only 10 per cent against and the rest unsure. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The poll also showed a majority supported the other big lever the federal government has to making EVs cheaper, by reducing or doing away with tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The results showed 53 per cent supported mirroring Europe's model that has put tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Chinese vehicles, an approach that balances protecting home industries with improving affordability. Breton said he would also like to see a more nuanced approach to China than the 100 per cent tariff Canada has imposed, to better strike that balance and make it easier to transition to zero-emission vehicles. 'We want to make sure that Canadians have access to affordable electric cars.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Open the door to cheaper electric vehicles from Europe, advocates urge
TORONTO - The federal government has stopped the world's cheapest electric vehicles — made in China — from coming into Canada with a 100 per cent tariff, so advocates are pushing to make it easier for automakers to bring in cheaper ones from Europe. 'Right now, there is a blockage, saying that for safety reasons they cannot let these cars in,' said Daniel Breton, head of Electric Mobility Canada. He's pushing to have the federal government rule that EVs deemed safe by European regulators don't need to be re-certified and modified for Canadian standards. The potentially costly process can be a barrier to bringing more compact and affordable EVs to the Canadian market, though demand might be the bigger hurdle. 'Right now Transport Canada is saying, well, we have to change the bumpers and we have to change the headlights and this and that for safety reasons, which, as far as I'm concerned is total B.S.,' said Breton. 'If the car is good enough to be driving on European roads, where you can drive much faster than here, don't come and tell me that they're not safe enough to be driven in Canada.' Attempts to lower the barriers to cheaper vehicles comes as EV sales have been disrupted by the abrupt end of government rebate programs, while tariffs and U.S. moves to end EV supports and mandates are further destabilizing the market. Breton said that allowing a more open flow of vehicles from Europe would fit in well with a push to strengthen and diversify trade ties with the region, as Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he hopes to do, but Transport Canada says it's not so simple. 'The certification requirements of other jurisdictions may not be sufficient to meet the safety needs of Canadian road users due to Canada's distinct driving environment,' said spokesman Hicham Ayoun in an email. He said Canadian test standards are better suited for the road infrastructure, speed limits and larger vehicle sizes found on Canadian roadways. 'Some European crash testing requirements are not as stringent as the Canadian regime due to differences in their driving environment.' While Breton said the idea that European testing is deficient is ridiculous, there is also the question of how much demand there would be for the vehicles. As Transport Canada pointed out, Canadians like big cars and trucks. So much so that a few years ago the International Energy Agency found Canadian vehicles were the largest and second heaviest in the world, resulting in the worst fuel efficiency rating globally. Automakers know that and could be hesitant to bring in smaller cars, said Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. 'European EVs are tailored for the European market, and those models don't convert very well to the U.S. and Canada,' he said. 'The small cars that Canadians appreciate are on the fringes — there aren't too many of them.' But even if the potential market isn't much bigger than the cars themselves, Breton said there's still demand from anyone ranging from downtown drivers to households looking to make their second car an EV. He pointed to the Smart EV his wife drives, which is no longer available in Canada. 'If today her vehicle was scrapped, she couldn't find anything on the market, except for the Fiat 500e. But that's it. That's not choice.' The Fiat is the cheapest EV available in Canada, with a base price of $42,290 (though the company is currently offering more than $4,000 in discounts) for an advertised 227-kilometre range. The Nissan Leaf is the nearest competitor, starting at a selling price of $44,596 for a 240-kilometre range. But there are numerous other compact models that aren't available here. Volkswagen sells its ID.4 in Canada, but not the ID.3 that can retail for some 20 per cent less, and Nissan doesn't sell its more affordable Micra model, while other European brands with compact EVs like Citroen, Opel and Peugeot don't sell in Canada at all. Sales numbers for the available compact options aren't high, with Stellantis selling 1,275 of its Fiat 500e model last year, compared with more than 62,000 under its Ram brand and more than 40,000 for Jeep. But the market also needs choice to grow and fewer barriers to entry, said Breton. There does seem to be support for at least the idea of bringing cheaper EVs from Europe, according to a poll released last month from Clean Energy Canada. The results from 2,585 Canadians showed 70 per cent were in favour of allowing European-approved EVs into Canada, with only 10 per cent against and the rest unsure. The poll also showed a majority supported the other big lever the federal government has to making EVs cheaper, by reducing or doing away with tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The results showed 53 per cent supported mirroring Europe's model that has put tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Chinese vehicles, an approach that balances protecting home industries with improving affordability. Breton said he would also like to see a more nuanced approach to China than the 100 per cent tariff Canada has imposed, to better strike that balance and make it easier to transition to zero-emission vehicles. 'We want to make sure that Canadians have access to affordable electric cars.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Open the door to cheaper electric vehicles from Europe, advocates urge
TORONTO — The federal government has stopped the world's cheapest electric vehicles — made in China — from coming into Canada with a 100 per cent tariff, so advocates are pushing to make it easier for automakers to bring in cheaper ones from Europe. 'Right now, there is a blockage, saying that for safety reasons they cannot let these cars in,' said Daniel Breton, head of Electric Mobility Canada. He's pushing to have the federal government rule that EVs deemed safe by European regulators don't need to be re-certified and modified for Canadian standards. The potentially costly process can be a barrier to bringing more compact and affordable EVs to the Canadian market, though demand might be the bigger hurdle. 'Right now Transport Canada is saying, well, we have to change the bumpers and we have to change the headlights and this and that for safety reasons, which, as far as I'm concerned is total B.S.,' said Breton. 'If the car is good enough to be driving on European roads, where you can drive much faster than here, don't come and tell me that they're not safe enough to be driven in Canada.' Attempts to lower the barriers to cheaper vehicles comes as EV sales have been disrupted by the abrupt end of government rebate programs, while tariffs and U.S. moves to end EV supports and mandates are further destabilizing the market. Breton said that allowing a more open flow of vehicles from Europe would fit in well with a push to strengthen and diversify trade ties with the region, as Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he hopes to do, but Transport Canada says it's not so simple. "The certification requirements of other jurisdictions may not be sufficient to meet the safety needs of Canadian road users due to Canada's distinct driving environment," said spokesman Hicham Ayoun in an email. He said Canadian test standards are better suited for the road infrastructure, speed limits and larger vehicle sizes found on Canadian roadways. "Some European crash testing requirements are not as stringent as the Canadian regime due to differences in their driving environment." While Breton said the idea that European testing is deficient is ridiculous, there is also the question of how much demand there would be for the vehicles. As Transport Canada pointed out, Canadians like big cars and trucks. So much so that a few years ago the International Energy Agency found Canadian vehicles were the largest and second heaviest in the world, resulting in the worst fuel efficiency rating globally. Automakers know that and could be hesitant to bring in smaller cars, said Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. "European EVs are tailored for the European market, and those models don't convert very well to the U.S. and Canada," he said. 'The small cars that Canadians appreciate are on the fringes — there aren't too many of them." But even if the potential market isn't much bigger than the cars themselves, Breton said there's still demand from anyone ranging from downtown drivers to households looking to make their second car an EV. He pointed to the Smart EV his wife drives, which is no longer available in Canada. "If today her vehicle was scrapped, she couldn't find anything on the market, except for the Fiat 500e. But that's it. That's not choice." The Fiat is the cheapest EV available in Canada, with a base price of $42,290 (though the company is currently offering more than $4,000 in discounts) for an advertised 227-kilometre range. The Nissan Leaf is the nearest competitor, starting at a selling price of $44,596 for a 240-kilometre range. But there are numerous other compact models that aren't available here. Volkswagen sells its ID.4 in Canada, but not the ID.3 that can retail for some 20 per cent less, and Nissan doesn't sell its more affordable Micra model, while other European brands with compact EVs like Citroen, Opel and Peugeot don't sell in Canada at all. Sales numbers for the available compact options aren't high, with Stellantis selling 1,275 of its Fiat 500e model last year, compared with more than 62,000 under its Ram brand and more than 40,000 for Jeep. But the market also needs choice to grow and fewer barriers to entry, said Breton. There does seem to be support for at least the idea of bringing cheaper EVs from Europe, according to a poll released last month from Clean Energy Canada. The results from 2,585 Canadians showed 70 per cent were in favour of allowing European-approved EVs into Canada, with only 10 per cent against and the rest unsure. The poll also showed a majority supported the other big lever the federal government has to making EVs cheaper, by reducing or doing away with tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The results showed 53 per cent supported mirroring Europe's model that has put tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Chinese vehicles, an approach that balances protecting home industries with improving affordability. Breton said he would also like to see a more nuanced approach to China than the 100 per cent tariff Canada has imposed, to better strike that balance and make it easier to transition to zero-emission vehicles. "We want to make sure that Canadians have access to affordable electric cars." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025. Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Robust federal collection, analysis of UFO data could dispel misinformation: report
OTTAWA – Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser. One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment. The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines. The final report of the science adviser's Sky Canada Project says the incidents highlight the importance of government investigation of what appears in the sky and how difficult it is to distinguish between natural occurrences, common technological devices and potential security concerns. The report, released this week, says Ottawa should assign a federal department or agency to manage public data on celestial sightings and set up a service to collect testimonies, investigate cases and release analyses. The report explores the public's decades-long fascination with unidentified flying objects and their association with extraterrestrial life, noting a recent shift to the more nuanced concept of unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena, known as UAPs. The report says the evolution in terminology has the potential to reduce the skepticism and ridicule that has sometimes greeted UFO sightings. 'Stigmatization can have significant consequences, such as discouraging witnesses from coming forward and hindering scientific inquiry,' the report says. 'The new, more encompassing UAP terminology can help promote greater transparency, credibility and acceptance of research in professional and scientific circles and in the wider public.' The report says while many sightings can be attributed to optical illusions, atmospheric phenomena or human activity, a minority remain unexplained for a myriad of reasons, including a lack of reliable data that prevents rigorous scientific analysis. Unexplained sightings generate interest and can be the source of misinformation or disinformation, diminishing public trust, the report adds. 'When people are repeatedly exposed to false narratives, they may become skeptical of credible sources, including scientists, journalists and government institutions.' Unusual sightings have drawn the attention of various federal agencies since the early days of the Cold War, with the Defence Research Board establishing a committee called Project Second Storey in 1952 to examine occurrences of 'flying saucers' over Canada. The report notes Transport Canada currently maintains the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System for incidents affecting aviation safety, including UAP sightings, while the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Department of National Defence may also receive reports through their operational networks. In addition, police forces sometimes hear from witnesses, and civil society organizations, such as Ufology Research of Manitoba and MUFON Canada, compile and analyze data from citizens, the report notes. However, there is no 'cohesive and standardized system' for reporting and follow-up in Canada. The report points to the United States, France and Chile as interesting examples of co-ordinated, transparent and scientifically driven approaches to UAP reporting. It says the federal government should choose a trusted and recognized scientific organization, such as the Canadian Space Agency, to manage public data about sightings. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. The report also recommends the lead organization play a significant role in dispelling misinformation and disinformation by responding to public and media inquiries related to sightings, and by documenting and communicating common misinterpretations of observations. In addition, data should be made available to the public for transparency and to support research. The space agency did not respond to a query about the report in time for publication, and the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Department said UAPs fall outside its mandate. The report says adopting robust scientific methods and communicating more transparently about sightings would amount to 'a significant step forward in promoting public understanding and combating misinformation.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
