The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, July 7, edition that an environmental think tank is urging Ottawa not to repeal its electric-vehicle mandate. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that Clean Energy Canada recommends retooling the mandate and revisiting near-term targets to make EVs more affordable for Canadians, aiming for prices under $40,000. The group emphasizes the need to support the auto sector during the current decline in EV sales. Clean Energy's plea comes on the heels of auto manufacturing leaders meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney last week, in which the chief executive officers repeated their calls for the mandate to be repealed. Starting next year, 20 per cent of all new light-duty vehicles sold in Canada must be zero-emission, including plug-in hybrids, rising to 100 per cent by 2035. Recent data show EVs made up 7.53 per cent of new vehicle sales in April. After the meeting, the head of an organization representing Ford Canada, GM Canada and Stellantis said he was "cautiously optimistic" the government would take action on the mandate. Clean Energy also called on Ottawa to re-fund the EV incentive program, but to be clearer as to when the program will be phased out.