The federal government announced last week that they are eyeing the year 2035 to ban new gas-powered cars and light-duty trucks from being sold in Canada.

It moves up the previous target of 2040, and will likely increase the federal government’s 600 million dollar investment into a rebate program to encourage the shift to electric.

SaskEV President Jason Cruickshank calls it a step in the right direction.

“A lot of EV organizations have been calling for 2030 as a target instead, but I think this is still kind of a move in the right direction,” Cruickshank said. “I think we’ll have to wait and see what the Americans do as far as if they can approve a steady EV mandate of their own, or if they try and do some of this stuff to try and tailpipe emission standards.”

Cruickshank says this could help convince people to switch to electric now.

“The other piece as well for energy companies is how well do they deploy charging infrastructure when it comes to electric vehicles,” Cruickshank said. “I think it will give it a bit more confidence. This is coming, this is going to be developed quickly over the next 15 years here, and so more organizations should be looking to invest now to kind of get started on this transition.”

Cruickshank says a shift to electric vehicles can be very beneficial to Saskatchewan.

“Saskatchewan is home to two-thirds of the 31 minerals that have been identified as being important to this transition in climate action,” Cruickshank said. “I think this will also provide some confidence, and send a signal to miners that they need to be looking to increase their investment so we can produce more of those metals and minerals that are going to be necessary for some new technologies.”

Cruickshank also encourages those who are hesitant about buying an electric vehicle to test drive one, adding their perception can change quickly.