The EV Mandate Is Not About the Environment It’s About Control

The EV Mandate Is Not About the Environment It’s About Control By Councillor Lisa Robinson In just six months, the federal government will begin phasing out your ability to buy a gas-powered car in Canada. Starting January 1, 2026, automakers will be required to ensure that 20% of all new vehicle sales are electric. By 2035, that number rises to 100%. You won’t be allowed to buy a new gas car — at all. They say this isn’t a ban. But if you can’t buy one, what else would you call it? This isn’t just about vehicles — it’s about freedom. Your freedom of movement. Your freedom to choose. And your freedom to live without being micromanaged by unelected bureaucrats, global bodies, and digital tracking systems. Let’s be honest: electric vehicles are not realistic for the average working Canadian. They’re expensive, impractical, and pose safety and environmental risks most people aren’t being told about. Yet instead of listening, the government is doubling down — threatening automakers with $20,000 fines per gas vehicle sold above quota, unless they buy “credits” from companies like Tesla. So who profits? Not Canadian families. Not our auto workers. While we get punished, companies like Tesla cash in. That’s not environmental policy. That’s economic manipulation dressed in green. Here in Pickering, this agenda is already in motion. On June 9, 2025, Council voted to expand EV chargers across the city — at fire halls, libraries, and community centres. This, despite the fact that our current chargers are underused, financially unsustainable, and losing money. There is no mass demand. There is no local mandate. And yet the rollout continues — paid for by you, the taxpayer. Let’s be honest: most residents in Pickering cannot afford a $70,000 electric vehicle. But they’re now being asked to subsidize chargers for those who can. This isn’t equity. It’s upward redistribution — and it’s not right. Worse still, EVs come with risks no one wants to talk about. Their batteries burn longer and hotter than regular cars — and are difficult to extinguish. They leach toxic chemicals into the environment. Less than 5% of these batteries are actually recycled. And the materials used to make them? Often sourced through child labour in the Congo, and mined in ways that devastate ecosystems around the world. This is what they call “sustainable.” But this isn’t just about batteries, or even cars. It’s about the digital infrastructure being quietly built beneath it all. Every EV charger logs your location and data. Every networked grid ties into a broader vision — one that includes smart cities, 15-minute zones, carbon credit systems, digital ID, and even restrictions on when and where you can travel. Not to mention, they can be shut down by a push of button, without your consent. These aren’t conspiracy theories. They’re published goals. And they’re happening right now under the guise of climate action. Pickering is part of ICLEI — a global network aligned with the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and Agenda 2030. Their motto is: “Think globally, act locally.” But when did you vote for that? You didn’t. And neither did I. These policies are being pushed through local councils, often quietly, with little to no public consultation. But the consequences are national — and generational. Make no mistake: this isn’t about reducing emissions. It’s about increasing control. Because once you accept that government can dictate what you drive, it’s only a matter of time before they dictate where you go, how often you go there, and whether you’re even allowed to drive at all. What starts with your car ends with your freedom. I didn’t run for office to stay silent. I ran to stand up. I opposed the EV charger expansion in Pickering because I believe we should be listening to the people — not pushing global agendas disguised as local policy. This isn’t about being anti-environment. It’s about being pro-choice — in the most fundamental way. You should have the right to choose how you live, how you move, and how you provide for your family. This isn’t just about cars. It’s about freedom, fairness, and the future of Canada. It starts in six months. And it ends only when you say you’ve had enough. Councillor Lisa Robinson The People’s Councillor “Strength does not lie in the absence of fear, but in the courage to face it head on and rise above it.