Quebec passes bill that bans gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035

Traffic on a street in Montreal, Thursday, November 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

The Quebec government announced the adoption of a bill Monday that will prohibit the sale of certain gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

The ban, which is part of the province's plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, will take place in two phases.

First, as of Jan. 31, 2034, it will be prohibited to advertise the sale of a light combustion vehicle of the 2035 model year or later, whether it's a new or used vehicle, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Then, beginning Dec. 31, 2035, selling and leasing new light combustion vehicles of 2034 model year and earlier will be banned.

"The sale of combustion engines will also be prohibited, except to replace a defective engine in a vehicle already on the road in Quebec," the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks said in a news release on Monday.

There are exceptions for certain vehicles, including those used by emergency services and rental companies. Also, light combustion vehicles already registered in Quebec can continue to be driven and resold.

The new law does not apply to motorcycles, mopeds, off-road vehicles, such as snowmobile and ATVs, and heavy vehicles.

Québec Solidaire (QS) had requested the bill go even further in cutting GHGs by banning the sale of light gas-powered vehicles earlier, by 2030. But Environment Minister Benoit Charette said in 2021 that it would pose too significant of a risk because by 2030 there wouldn't be enough new electric cars to supply the Quebec market.

The ministry says that adjustments could be recommended after studies of market trends are carried out in 2026 and 2030. The provincial government has set a goal of having two million EVs on Quebec roads by 2030. As of the third quarter of 2024, nearly 33 per cent of newly registered light vehicles in Quebec were electric.

In 2023, Quebec hit a record high for gas-powered vehicle sales, and as Quebec leans into the electric vehicle (EV) market, experts in the automotive industry say the real test for the province will come in 2027 when the rebates for EV purchases will disappear. They will start to be gradually phased out beginning in 2025.