Queen’s Park – MPP Jennifer French (Oshawa), the Official Opposition NDP Critic for Infrastructure, Transportation & Highways, has introduced the EV-Ready Homes Act (Bill 199), which aims to ensure that new homes in Ontario are equipped to support electric vehicles (EVs) by mandating the installation of rough-ins for EV chargers by builders.
“Electric vehicles are the future, but we are not yet EV-ready,” said French. “New homes should be built with the future in mind. Installing home charging infrastructure can be expensive – but it’s far more cost-effective when it is already roughed-in.”
French criticized the current government’s approach, stating, “This government has boasted about their electric vehicle investments – but they are not plugged into what is really needed. People are excited about electric vehicles, but they won’t buy them if they can’t reliably charge them.”
The EV-Ready Homes Act is set to be debated during Private Member’s Motion 109 on Wednesday, June 5th. MPP French has consistently raised this issue, previously addressing it in a statement before the legislature and in a question to the Premier.
A similar requirement for EV charging infrastructure was part of the Ontario Building Code until it was removed by the Ford government in 2018.
Teresa Sarkesian, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Distributors Association, expressed strong support for the bill. “Whether it’s the federal government’s net-zero target, the province’s investments in EV manufacturing, or changes in customer expectations – mass adoption of EVs is coming, and it is time to get ready. Building new homes with the expected changes in future electricity use in mind – particularly EVs – makes sense, and it will ensure Ontario is ready for its electric future.”
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