Backstopped by charging stations at Royal Roads University, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used his Monday visit to the Capital Region to boast about electric vehicle measures his government has rolled out in recent weeks.

One of the best ways to reduce pollution is to get more B次元官网网址渃lean cars on the road,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said as he touted the Liberals extending the $5,000 federal rebate program promised in last weekB次元官网网址檚 budget and an updated EV sales mandate.

That sales measure rejigs targets set just last year and would ensure one in five new passenger vehicles sold are battery-operated by 2026, 60 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035.

The location for the PMB次元官网网址檚 appearance was fitting for talking about electric vehicles, as the Capital Region boasts one of the highest levels of EV uptake in the country.

But pressed on the up-front costs for electric vehicles and admitting the initial affordability challenges, Trudeau said B次元官网网址減rices will come downB次元官网网址� with technological advances.

B次元官网网址淲ith the kind of demand and the solutions being brought forward by the auto industry, it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 surprise me for us to reach some of those (sales) targets ahead of time,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淔inally, itB次元官网网址檚 about creating new jobs as well. With our critical minerals strategy here in Canada, weB次元官网网址檒l be supporting the development of EV supply chains in Canada, which will create more jobs, will create a growing economy and again, will allow people to afford electric vehicles even quicker.B次元官网网址�

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However, questions remain on how the government plans to ensure the electricity powering people plugging in is coming from low-emission sources. Trudeau, whose government just approved a 300 million-barrel oil project off the coast of Newfoundland, said Canada needs to reduce its dependence on oil and gas, adding RussiaB次元官网网址檚 invasion of Ukraine emphasizes the importance of finding cleaner energy sources. The federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 role is to partner with those advancing innovative energy solutions to be used across Canada and the world, he said, before conceding that nuclear power is on the table.

Asked about housing struggles, the prime minister pointed to budget promises to get more housing built and reduce barriers for municipalities by shifting zoning regulations and accelerating permitting. He said Canada will double new housing starts over the next 10 years and the government will go after those treating housing as an B次元官网网址渋nvestment vehicle.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗ousing should be about homes for families to be able to build a future for themselves and their kids, it should be about strengthening communities,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be about wealthy investors and corporations trying to secure solid investments.B次元官网网址�

With COVID-19 cases rising again and the feds facing sustained pressure from premiers to increase the Canada Health Transfer, Trudeau hinted more health-care funding could come with strings attached and added that other money downloads in the past havenB次元官网网址檛 resulted in better health outcomes.

B次元官网网址淲e are very clear, there will be significantly more money from the federal government in health care.B次元官网网址�

To cap his local visit, Trudeau spoke with Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps in the early afternoon before meeting with members of the cityB次元官网网址檚 youth advisory council.

Asked about potential protests during his visit, the PM joked that he couldnB次元官网网址檛 remember a trip to Victoria without them. He said itB次元官网网址檚 vital for Canadians to keep expressing their views and disagreements with governments in legal, responsible and safe ways.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important to understand that weB次元官网网址檝e been through a couple of really difficult years and it has led to anxiety, a sense of helplessness, a sense of frustration around governments having imposed mandates to keep us all safe.B次元官网网址�

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was just at Royal Roads University in Colwood, where he touted recent electric vehicle commitments made by his government.

B次元官网网址� Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)

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