N.S. MLAs hit the brakes on rebates for new Teslas
Nova Scotia MLAs Unanimously Vote to Scrap Electric Vehicle Rebate for Tesla Products
In a unanimous decision on Friday, Nova Scotia Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) voted to eliminate the province’s electric vehicle rebate for new Tesla products. This move was made in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s connection to U.S. President Donald Trump amid an ongoing trade war initiated by the Americans.
The provincial rebate for a new electric vehicle typically ranges between $2,000 and $3,000, depending on the value of the purchase.
New Democrat MLA Susan LeBlanc spearheaded the amendment to revoke the rebate, citing Musk’s alignment with President Trump as a primary reason for the decision. “The owner of Tesla happens to have aligned himself with a man who is waging economic war on our country and this is a small way to take a stand against that,” LeBlanc stated during the debate on the Financial Measures Act.
The amendment, supported by LeBlanc’s caucus colleagues and a sub-amendment from the governing Progressive Conservatives, clarified that the change would specifically apply to the purchase of new products manufactured by Tesla or any associated corporations.
NDP Leader Claudia Chender emphasized the importance of supporting Canada’s auto industry amidst threats posed by the American government’s targeting of electric vehicles and climate change. “Our auto industry in particular is at threat and the American government very particularly is targeting electric vehicles and climate change,” Chender explained. “So we see no reason to rebate the purchase of cars from Tesla.”
Government House leader Brendan Maguire echoed these sentiments, labeling the amendment as “a pretty easy thing to do.” He emphasized the government’s stance on not supporting individuals who do not support Canada. “Why would we support somebody who doesn’t support Canada? This is somebody who has made disparaging remarks about Canada and we’re not going to support him,” Maguire asserted.
Elon Musk’s involvement with the U.S. government as a prominent member of Trump’s inner circle and leader of the Department of Government Efficiency has sparked controversy and led to stock declines for Tesla. The department has faced criticism for its assessments of government departments and instances of issuing mass layoffs.
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