Canada's energy future starts now
Pierre Lussier, CEO of Papillons Infrastructure Nature and member of the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC)
Reading time: 10 minutes
Table of Contents
Imagine a Canada where every family can charge their vehicle using our clean electricity, produced here at home, instead of relying on fluctuations in global energy markets or geopolitical whims.
Imagine communities where charging sites act as smart energy hubs, stabilizing our electricity grid during peak hours thanks to groundbreaking bi-directional technologies.
Imagine a fleet of electric vehicles owned by local farmers that sometimes supports their delivery logistics, sometimes powers community infrastructure with clean electricity, and sometimes turns agricultural surplus into contributions for food banks.
This vision directly responds to the expectations of a population calling for forward-looking projects that create jobs and ensure our energy independence. Faced with U.S. tariff threats that have been weakening our economy for months already, Canada needs ambitious projects. It is imperative that we stay the course: let’s build the most innovative electric charging network in the world together.
Concrete results that speak for themselves
The 1,300,000 Canadians who already drive electric are proof of it: they save thousands of dollars each year on fuel and maintenance. They are already part of this national transformation.
Our 34,000 public charging stations across the country, a 25% increase in just one year, reflect unprecedented momentum. When you consider how long it took liquid fuels to develop their national network, we are already ahead of the historical pace.
The tools are already in place: incentives for zero-emission vehicles are making electric vehicles accessible to all budgets, the ZEVIP program funds charging stations in underserved areas such as residential buildings, the EVAE standard ensures affordable options for all Canadians, and the Clean Fuel Regulations are driving infrastructure investment.
The 2035 deadline to end the sale of new internal combustion vehicles, while leaving the used market untouched, sets the direction. In short, we already have everything needed to succeed in this transformation. What is missing is only the momentum and the courage of our decision-makers to make it a true national priority.
The urgency of an ambitious economic vision
In a climate of growing trade uncertainty, these times call for boldness. The public expects its leaders to put forward an ambitious economic vision that propels them into the future, rather than forcing them to absorb the fallout of international tensions. The electrification of our transportation systems represents such an opportunity to build a resilient, innovative, and prosperous economy.
Hesitation is costly. Every signal of political uncertainty discourages private investors who are ready to deploy billions into our infrastructure. Every delay in the reinstatement of the iZEV program pushes automakers to prioritize other markets.
Each month of delay means jobs and investments slipping through our fingers toward more predictable jurisdictions, especially as our competitors are heavily investing in these future technologies. Every signal that weakens our energy policies, every contradictory message sent to markets undermines our position as a leader and discourages the private investment essential to our future prosperity.
A Call for Collective Greatness
This national electric infrastructure project transcends partisan and regional divides — it is a Canadian response to global economic challenges. It will continue to create jobs for electricians, civil contractors, engineers, and technicians from coast to coast, while strengthening our resilience in the face of international trade turbulence. In fact, this sector has already created more than 100,000 quality jobs across Canada.
This is therefore not simply a matter of cars. Faced with international trade uncertainty, it is the energy project of our generation — one that will strengthen our economic sovereignty. It will transform the way we move, consume energy, and prosper as an independent nation. This is the national infrastructure project we should be talking about in 2025.
We have the technologies. We have the policies. We have investors ready to act. We have a population that already supports this transition. What we lack is the determination of our leaders to make this vision an unavoidable reality.
Canadians, Quebeckers, let us collectively demand that our governments seize this historic opportunity. Let us remember that we elected decision-makers precisely on this vision for the future. Let us finally build the energy network that will define Canada for generations to come.