Singh announces cash rebates on Canadian electric vehicles, 100% tariffs on Musk’s Teslas

WINDSOR— NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced Monday that an NDP government will reinstitute the cash rebate for Canadians that buy an electric vehicle and double it if the vehicle is made in Canada – but slap a 100 per cent tariff on all Tesla vehicles during a trade war.

“My top priority is workers and jobs,” said Singh. “Trump’s trade war is a nightmare for Canadian auto workers — they’re going to work every day not knowing if shutdowns and layoffs are coming, not knowing if they’ll be able to keep putting food on the table. To keep and create new good, unionized, mortgage-paying auto jobs, we need cars and trucks to be built in Canada. An NDP government will help make that happen.”

A $5,000 rebate for buying an electric vehicle was scrapped by the Liberal government in January 2025. Singh’s plan would see Canadians get that back, with a $10,000 rebate cheque for buying a Canadian-made electric vehicle.

“Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will cut from people to give more to big corporations and the ultra-wealthy—and by accepting Elon Musk’s endorsement, he’s really showing who he stands with,” said Singh. “And Mark Carney is saying he would lay off federal workers – at a time when Trump’s tariff war is going to drive more Canadians out of a job. That’s the last thing Canadian workers and the Canadian economy needs.

“Buying a car is a major purchase. And Canadians are looking for the best deals they can find – especially when everything costs more. If you’re buying, buy Canadian. Support Canadian auto workers. Support Canadian auto jobs.”

Singh has also proposed a comprehensive Build Canadian Buy Canadian plan to protect and create good, unionized Canadian jobs, and continues to push for a comprehensive worker support package to be created and ready to keep workers whole in case Trump follows through on his tariff threats.

BACKGROUND

• On Jan. 12, 2025 the Liberal government scrapped the iZEV program, which gave Canadian families or businesses up to $5,000 at the point of sale to incentivize the purchase or lease of a zero-emission cars, SUVs, and light pick-up trucks.
• Jagmeet Singh and the NDP would rebate Canadian families and businesses $10,000 for buying or leasing (over 12 months) a Canadian-manufactured zero-emission vehicle, and $5,000 for buying or leasing a zero-emission vehicle manufactured elsewhere.
• The NDP would continue to tariff Chinese-made zero-emission vehicles at 100 per cent – a tariff that’s been in place since late 2024.
• If American President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to apply a tariff to all Canadian goods, the NDP would slap a 100 per cent tariffs on all Tesla products. Tesla is owned by Elon Musk, a member of Trump’s administration and inner circle.
• The NDP Build Canadian Buy Canadian plan will ban American companies from all federal government procurement contracts and projects when Canadian workers can do them, at any time the United States is imposing additional tariffs on Canadian goods.
• The NDP’s Build Canadian Buy Canadian plan will change to Canada’s procurement policies to:
  • Favour Canadian companies in the bid selection process.
  • Give preference to suppliers and contractors with a unionized workforce in the bid selection process.
  • Increase Canadian content requirements.
  • Prioritize building materials, like steel, made by Canadian workers, in all publicly funded infrastructure projects.