Trailer GHG Standards Suspension Extended

Summary#

This is an Order approving an interim order made by the Minister of the Environment on November 24, 2025 and approved by the Governor in Council as P.C. 2025-910 on December 5, 2025. The approval keeps in place temporary changes to several vehicle-emission rules — mainly a continued suspension of trailer greenhouse‑gas standards and two technical updates — for up to one year under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

What it does#

• Keeps the suspension of the trailer greenhouse‑gas standards in the Heavy‑duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations.
• Updates the plug‑in hybrid electric vehicle calculation reference in the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations so companies can use the correct U.S. reference for reporting.
• Revises the definition of “medium‑duty passenger vehicle” in the On‑Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations so some heavier passenger vehicles can stay under the light‑duty rules and receive credits.
• Extends the Minister’s interim order for up to one year from when it was made (the interim order was made on November 24, 2025).

Who's affected#

• Trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, especially smaller Canadian firms that sell into the North American market.
• Trucking companies that buy or operate trailers.
• Automakers, importers and fleet operators who report under the light‑duty vehicle GHG rules and make or sell plug‑in hybrid or large battery‑electric passenger vehicles.
• Regulators and industry consultants who handle compliance and reporting for vehicle emissions.
  If it is unclear whether a specific company or vehicle is affected, the contact listed in the Canada Gazette item is the Environment and Climate Change Canada transportation division.

Why it matters#

• It keeps Canada aligned with recent U.S. regulatory changes. That avoids forcing Canadian trailer makers to meet standards that are not applied in the U.S., which the government says would create a competitive disadvantage.
• Delaying the trailer standards reduces expected GHG savings. The government estimates about 0.7 megatonnes (Mt) CO2e less avoided emissions for model year 2027 trailers, and about 3.8 Mt CO2e less over the combined model years 2020–2027 across the 2020–2050 period.
• Businesses in the trailer and trucking sectors will save on near‑term compliance and investment costs but will also miss the fuel‑saving benefits that come from adopting the required technologies. The government judges the cost savings will be smaller than the lost fuel‑savings benefits.
• The other changes let companies continue to calculate emissions for plug‑in hybrids using the correct U.S. reference and let certain heavier passenger vehicles remain under the light‑duty rules, reducing reporting and administrative burden.
• This is a temporary, short‑term measure (up to one year) intended to maintain harmonization while policy options are considered.