Extend Interim Vehicle Emission Measures

Summary#

This Order approves an interim change under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that keeps several vehicle-emission rules in a modified state to stay aligned with recent U.S. regulatory changes. It extends the interim measures for one year from when the Minister made them on January 31, 2025 (the Order was approved by the Governor in Council on February 14, 2025 and published February 22, 2025).

What it does#

• Keeps the suspension of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission standards for certain trailers in the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations. These trailer standards have been repeatedly suspended in Canada since 2019 and never came into force.
• Updates the reference used to calculate emissions for light‑duty plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles in the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations so companies can keep doing their emissions calculations using the correct U.S. rule section.
• Changes the definition of “medium‑duty passenger vehicle” in the On‑Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations to match recent U.S. changes. That lets some heavier passenger vehicles continue to be treated as light‑duty for credits and reporting.

Who's affected#

• Trailer makers and trucking companies in Canada. Small and medium Canadian trailer manufacturers are highlighted as particularly affected because they compete in a North American market.
• Automakers and vehicle importers that report under the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations.
• Companies that would otherwise have to report under heavy‑duty rules for certain large passenger vehicles (those that fall into the revised GVWR range).
• The general public indirectly, because the changes affect when fuel‑saving technologies on trailers and some vehicles take effect.

Why it matters#

• The change preserves regulatory alignment with the United States after the U.S. repealed or amended related rules. That avoids putting Canadian manufacturers at a potential competitive disadvantage if Canada moved ahead alone.
• Suspending trailer standards delays the adoption of some fuel‑saving technologies. The government estimates this would reduce expected GHG reductions by about 0.5 megatonnes (Mt) CO2e for the 2026 model‑year trailers and roughly 3.1 Mt CO2e over the 2020–2026 model years’ portion of their lifetime (2020–2050 portion).
• For vehicle makers and importers, the fixes mean they can keep calculating emissions for plug‑in hybrids and claim credits for certain heavier passenger vehicles without switching to heavy‑duty reporting rules, reducing paperwork and administrative burden.
• The Order is temporary: the interim measures can last up to one year from January 31, 2025 (i.e., potentially until January 31, 2026), while officials work on longer‑term regulatory amendments to fully resolve alignment with U.S. rules.