Collective Event
EV Policy and Practice in Canada
January 28, 2026, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Canada has committed to Net-zero Emissions by 2050, with a 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan to meet Canada’s Paris Agreement target to reduce emissions by 40-45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been a critical part of Canada’s plan to decarbonize the transportation sector.
While there has been significant growth in the uptake of EVs in Canada, product affordability, reduced incentives from both provincial and federal governments, trade tensions, consumer concerns over charging infrastructure and performance, and concerns regarding the consequences of mining critical minerals, remain significant barriers to broad uptake.
In this session, our panel will explore how the uptake of EVs in Canada is impacted by policy controls and other considerations, as well as explore the position of the industry at a national scale.
Presenters will share examples of how this compares to other countries globally. Panelists will also focus on the process of implementing EV-related policies and infrastructure alongside communities and regional or provincial governments.
You can participate either in-person or via zoom. The in-person gathering will include light refreshments and opportunity for networking with other participants. Zoom participants will be able to submit questions during the Q&A period.
Moderator
Milind Kandlikar is Professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and former Director of the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. His work focuses on the intersection of technology innovation, human development and the global environment. His current projects include cross-national comparisons of regulation of agricultural biotechnology; air quality in Indian cities; risks and benefits of nanotechnology; new technologies for sustainable transportation; and development and climate change. He is a Steering Committee member of the Climate Solutions Research Collective and he is a Faculty Member at UBC’s Clean Energy Research Centre.
Panelists
Megan Lohmann is the CEO at Community Energy Association (CEA). She has over 20 years of experience in collaborating with local governments and Indigenous communities to advance climate and energy priorities. Megan supports her team in planning and implementing large-scale, high-impact initiatives, effectively leveraging funding and enabling partnerships across local, regional, and provincial governments, utilities, and the private sector.
Megan is Vice-Chair of the Electric Mobility Canada Board, serves on the Board of Governors with the College of the Rockies. She has been a member of the Energy Step Code Council, Building to Electrification Coalition, has participated as a Fellow and Ambassador with the Energy Futures Lab and supports a number of other Councils and committees. In recognition of her leadership, Megan was honored by BC Business Magazine through their Women of the Year awards in 2023. Megan is passionate about driving impactful change through her leadership in the sector.
Werner Antweiler is an Associate Professor in the Sauder School of Business, where he holds the Chair in International Trade Policy and is chairing the Strategy and Business Economics Division. He works on research related to environmental and energy economics, including electricity markets, international trade in energy, integration of renewable energy into energy systems, and the electrification of mobility. He is also a frequent commentator on broadcast media about a wide range of public policy topics. He is a Steering Committee member of the Climate Solutions Research Collective, he participates in UBC’s Future Minerals Initiative, and he is a Faculty Member at UBC’s Clean Energy Research Centre.