As the provincial government prepares to table Budget 2026 next week, it’s worth stepping back and asking a simple question: are they giving British Columbians the tools and certainty they need to make practical, affordable transportation choices?
For BC’s New Car Dealers – which contribute more than $17 billion annually to BC’s economy and supports roughly 30,000 jobs in communities across the province – the answer hinges on three things: affordability, policy clarity, and charging infrastructure.
Encouragingly, the province’s recent decision to align its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policy more closely with federal changes is a constructive step. Alignment matters. Clear, consistent policy signals help consumers plan major purchases, allow businesses to invest with confidence, and ensure the marketplace remains competitive and stable.
But alignment alone isn’t enough. Budget 2026 is where those policy signals need to become tangible, market-ready outcomes that reflect today’s realities.
One of the most important areas where that clarity is needed is charging infrastructure. If electric vehicles are to become a practical option for more British Columbians, charging must be reliable, accessible, and convenient – whether you live in a downtown condo, a suburban neighbourhood, or a rural community.
As the Prime Minister noted recently, charging needs to become as routine as refuelling a conventional vehicle. That requires sustained investment, not one-off announcements, as range anxiety remains one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption, and infrastructure is required to address it.
Affordability is another area where provincial policy has fallen out of step with reality.
BC’s so-called luxury vehicle tax threshold of $55,000 has not been adjusted for years. In that time, the average price of a new vehicle has climbed beyond $66,000 – not because vehicles are becoming more luxurious, but because they are safer, cleaner, and more technologically advanced than ever before.
Today, many family SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks – the vehicles people rely on to get to work, shuttle kids to hockey practice, or support small businesses – are being taxed as luxury purchases.
In practice, it has become a vehicle purchase tax on working families. If government is intent on maintaining a luxury tax, it should be narrowly targeted at truly high-end purchases, not the vehicles British Columbians depend on every day. Better yet, it should be eliminated altogether.
Finally, no discussion about the future of transportation can ignore the people who keep vehicles on the road.
The automotive sector is facing a projected shortfall of up to 20,000 workers over the next decade, particularly among technicians trained in advanced diagnostics and EV systems. These shortages are already limiting service capacity and driving up costs for consumers.
Budget 2026 is an opportunity to address this head-on by expanding funding for automotive trades and EV-specific training, increasing seats in post-secondary programs, and partnering with dealers and institutions to expand regional training access. Investing in skills and workforce development isn’t just good economic policy -it’s essential to long-term affordability and resilience.
British Columbians want cleaner transportation, but they also need choices that are practical, affordable, and supported by real-world infrastructure. Clear policy alignment, modernized affordability measures, and sustained investment in charging and workforce training can help deliver that balance.
Budget 2026 is the province’s chance to show how its transportation ambitions will work in practice – for consumers, for businesses, and for communities across BC.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. He can be reached at [email protected]
