The New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia (NCDA) said Budget 2026 does not go far enough to address transportation affordability, EV adoption and workforce readiness, arguing that incremental measures will not deliver meaningful relief for consumers.
In a Feb. 17 statement issued from Langley, B.C., the association acknowledged fiscal pressures facing the government, but said stronger commitments are required.
“Affordability is the dominant issue facing vehicle buyers in British Columbia,” said Blair Qualey, President and CEO of the NCDA, in a statement. “If government wants to accelerate the transition to cleaner vehicles, it must do so in a way that reflects how people actually live – and that requires far stronger commitments to infrastructure, skills, and cost containment.”
The NCDA welcomed alignment between B.C.’s zero-emission vehicle framework and federal policy, saying it improves clarity. However, it cautioned that alignment alone will not sustain EV adoption without significantly expanded charging infrastructure, particularly outside major urban centres, and greater investment in technician training.
The association said shortages of trained technicians are already placing upward pressure on ownership and maintenance costs. It is urging the province to expand EV-specific training programs and accelerate upskilling.
The group also renewed its call to revisit B.C.’s $55,000 luxury vehicle tax threshold, noting the average new-vehicle price now exceeds $66,000. “This has effectively become a tax on modern vehicles, not luxury ones,” said Qualey. “If affordability is truly the test, this policy needs to be revisited.”
As a reminder, the NCDA represents more than 400 dealers supporting approximately 30,000 jobs and $17 billion in retail sales across the province.
