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CCIC Applauds Canada’s Budget Proposal to Double Number of Federally Supported EV Charging Stations, Invest $634M Over Five Years as Canadians Look for Fuel Price Alternatives
- By CCIC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal funding for EV charging, research and development, and fleet electrification will help more Canadians drive affordably as high and unpredictable fuel prices strain household budgets, while setting the stage for a potentially transformative National Charging Infrastructure Strategy.
OTTAWA, November 5, 2026 — The Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC) supports the federal government’s proposal to invest $634 million over five years in electric vehicle (EV) charging deployment ($587 million), charging research and development ($45 million), and greening federal fleets ($2.2 million). The funding was announced today in Masters of Our Destiny: Budget 2026.
The funding builds on federal efforts to make EV ownership more affordable through the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) and Canada’s new import quota for Chinese-made EVs, intended to expand access to lower-cost models. Together, these measures can help more Canadians buy an EV and access the charging they need.
More than one million Canadians have already made the switch to EVs. Clean Energy Canada’s April 2026 analysis estimates that a typical Canadian driver could save $23,000-$32,000 over ten years by switching to an EV. Especially now, with fuel prices high and unpredictable, expanding access to charging is one of the most direct ways to bring those savings to more households.
Funding through fiscal year 2031–32 also gives charging companies greater certainty to plan multi-year investments. CCIC’s July 2026 analysis shows that a credible pathway to Canada’s EV sales target is likely to unlock $21 billion in charging investment by 2035. In keeping with the budget’s Masters of Our Destiny theme, 50–65% of charging investment typically flows to Canadian skilled trades, utilities, and local suppliers, supporting work that cannot be offshored.
Travis Allan, President and CEO of CCIC, said:
“Achieving Canada’s target of 75% EV sales by 2035 will require billions of dollars of investment by the private sector. Canadians need to feel confident there will be charging stations where and when they need them. The support for new charging station deployment and R&D in today’s federal budget shows the Government of Canada has listened to Canadian families looking for lower-cost transportation options in the face of massive and unpredictable fuel price changes and to the charging industry, which is looking for multi-year commitments to justify major charging investment.”
Today’s announcement also lays the groundwork for the release of Canada’s upcoming National Charging Infrastructure Strategy.
As the Government of Canada develops the strategy, CCIC encourages it to support commercial fleet electrification, including medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and their charging infrastructure, noting that commercial vehicle use accounts for a significant proportion of Canada’s transportation emissions.
“Given the scope of investment needed to achieve Canada’s EV sales targets, it will be more important than ever to quickly and effectively deploy charging to address Canada’s largest charging gaps, including key corridors and regions that are underserved by 150 kW+ public fast charging, and multi-unit residential buildings, which often face special barriers to home charging deployment,” said Allan. “There are few better ways for Canadians to be masters of our own destiny than powering our cars with affordable, Canadian electricity.”
CCIC looks forward to working with the Minister of Finance, who will now oversee the Canada Infrastructure Bank, to help deliver the previously announced Charging and Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure Initiative. It also welcomes support for the National Research Council of Canada to achieve more timely updates of National Model Codes and accelerate the adoption of innovative building methods, noting that preparing buildings for EV charging is critical to lowering transportation costs for Canadian households.
CCIC is ready to help shape these measures and support the Government of Canada in designing and implementing the upcoming National Charging Infrastructure Strategy.
About the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council
The Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC) is the national industry association representing Canada’s electric vehicle charging sector. Its members finance, build, own, and operate public and private charging infrastructure across the country.
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