Election 2021 – Grading the Federal Party Platforms
EV Society National Opinion Poll of Canadian EV Association Leaders
Introduction
In a national opinion poll conducted by EV Society this week, 23 EV Association leaders across Canada graded the federal parties’ election platforms. Electric vehicle (EV) drivers, like all Canadians, are concerned about the environment, public health and housing, the economy, jobs, and social justice. The leaders have longstanding experience operating EVs and are knowledgeable about the pan-Canadian context of services and supports.
Regarding the environment and health, approximately 1/4 of Canada’s carbon pollution is caused by the transportation sector, with cars and trucks responsible for the majority. An average driver can reduce their vehicle’s carbon emissions by 67-95% by switching from a comparable compact, full-size or mid-size gasoline car to an EV.
There is tremendous opportunity at this time for Canada to capitalize on the emerging green economy globally by focusing on the electric transportation and renewable energy industries here at home. National strategies in these sectors need to benefit all Canadians, including remote and rural and Indigenous communities.
EVS Opinion Poll
Association leaders were asked to review EV Society’s recent survey reports on the federal parties’ election platforms – See: Survey Highlights and Platform Comparison – in each of the 5 focal areas of the survey:
- EV adoption and Greenhouse gas reduction
- EV industry leadership
- Charging infrastructure
- Affordability and accessibility of EVs
- Education
In formulating their grades, the leaders were asked to consider:
- Amount of money committed (i.e., Is it sufficient to accomplish the indicated purposes?)
- Timeliness (i.e., What is the platform’s timeline? Does it fit with current and projected demands?)
- Appropriateness of the commitment (i.e., Does it engage actual needs locally, regionally, nationally? Are these the most pressing needs at this time?)
- Effectiveness (i.e., Will these commitments adequately address the respective environmental, economic recovery, reconciliation, and social equity and fairness issues that the parties have identified.)
Caveats
Please bear in mind that this is an “opinion poll” based on Canadian EV Association leaders’ perceptions of the efficacy of the party platforms. The survey and this report are intended to generate conversation. We encourage readers to form their own opinions based on the survey reports themselves – Survey Highlights and Platform Comparison – which provide an objective summary of the parties’ platforms in the five areas noted.
Results – Scoring the Platforms
The party platforms that received the highest grades were the Liberal (B), NDP (C) and Green (C). The platforms with the lowest scores were Conservative (D) and the Bloc Québécois (D-).
Interpreting the results
As with all opinion polls, it is important to take note of the range of grades awarded on each of the five dimensions of each party’s platform. In bold terms, a wide spread of grades (e.g., A ~ F) suggests that the leaders may have focused on different aspects of the platforms and perceived different strengths and limitations. A tight cluster of grades (e.g., A ~ C) indicates that the leaders shared a similar opinion, but doesn’t foreclose discussion of the details of the platforms themselves.
Election 2021 Opinion Poll - Average Grades
| Party | EV Adoption and Greenhouse Gas Reduction | EV Industry Leadership | Charging Infrastructure | Affordability & Accessibility of EVs | Education | Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloc Québécois | D | D- | D- | D- | E+ | D- |
| Conservative | D | D+ | C- | D- | D- | D |
| Green Party | C+ | D+ | C | C+ | C- | C |
| Liberal | B- | B | B | B+ | B | B |
| NDP | C | C | C | C+ | D+ | C |
Election 2021 Opinion Poll - Range of Grades
| Party | EV Adoption and Greenhouse Gas Reduction | EV Industry Leadership | Charging Infrastructure | Affordability & Accessibility of EVs | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloc Québécois | B ~ F | C ~ F | B ~ F | C ~ F | C ~ F |
| Conservative | B ~ F | B ~ F | A ~ F | C ~ F | B ~ F |
| Green Party | A ~ D | B ~ E | A ~ E | A ~ E | B ~ F |
| Liberal | A ~ C | A ~ D | A ~ C | A ~ C | A ~ D |
| NDP | B ~ F | A ~ E | A ~ E | A ~ E | B ~ F |
Final Notes
The poll was explicitly configured as non-partisan; the grades are based on the platforms and are not an endorsement of the party. The grades, in fact, show that most of the platforms were interpreted as having useful strategies in varying degrees. The lowest grades were awarded in cases when a platform did not address one of the 5 topics, all of which are considered critical for the electrification of transportation in Canada.
The poll did not ask the leaders to explain their scores. It is a useful exercise, however, to look at the actual platform statements to see what the EV Association leaders were reacting to.
The Liberal platform summarized the actions and commitments the party had already undertaken while in government in the five areas noted above. It also outlined their plans for the future. The other parties’ platforms made a number of impressive commitments but did not always provide a clear breakdown of their investments or an action plan and timeline for implementing the changes they recommended. This may have affected the outcome of the poll.
We want to thank the 23 EV Association Leaders for taking the time to provide this feedback!
It remains to be seen how the general public will interpret the platforms on September 20th.
Please remember to VOTE! There is a lot at stake in this election. Every platform has taken a position on the environment, electrification and EVs, as well as public health and housing, the economy, jobs, and social justice. Get out your VOTE, and make it count!