this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2025

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Canada needs a crown corporation for vehicle production (www.policyalternatives.ca)

submitted 1 day ago by streetfestival@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca

42 comments fedilink hide all child comments

That said, with a changing global market in mind, countries have been more willing to get involved in the planning and development of national automotive companies. Mexico’s “Olinia”, for instance, is a planned EV line set to be led by a new federal ministry, with a focus on affordability. As noted in its initial press release, the target demographic is families and young people, with three models expected to cost between US $4,400 to US $7,400—significantly lower than other EVs sold in the country.

The idea is that a nationally led framework will aid in the project’s coordination, with production intended to take place across several regions to keep costs down. Government ownership will also ensure a reliable stream of investment and that the end product is something attainable by the average Mexican family.

Turkey is pursuing a similar project through its Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG), a consortium of companies with the support and financial backing of the government. The goal is to create a national brand of EVs, with some models already being available for purchase.

With Mexico and Turkey offering prospective templates, Canada need not reinvent the wheel in pursuing its own, publicly owned automaker. Only the federal government has the ability to operate a program of this magnitude by bringing together our natural resources, skilled workforce, and industrial capacity to create a sustainable and affordable Canadian brand.

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[–] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It’s not a small minority who cannot manage as pedestrians, with active or even better public transportation.

Easily said, for a healthy young adult who doesn’t have to support young children.

Having been entirely car free until we had young children, it was a true eye opener to have to confront how difficult it is to get kids to medical appointments and activities without a car.

Urban design doesn’t provide infrastructure for families in the core. It’s not just a transportation choice issue. Cities would need to be designed very differently and greater physical and social accommodations for children and persons with disabilities and neurodivergence would be needed.

When kids became part of our lives, we deliberately chose to live as close to the core and public transit as we could and still be near schools, community centres and hospitals. It still put us in a semi-suburban style older neighborhood where some reliance on a car became necessary.

Unreliability of public transit is much more problematic when you have to transport young children who chill quickly when not moving in deeply cold weather.

Also, many children cannot consistently meet the behavioural expectations adults on public transit or elsewhere.

Adults aren’t shy to tell parents that they shouldn’t bring their kids into public spaces when they can’t meet behavioural expectations, but getting a kid having a meltdown home or a sick kid to a physician or hospital without a car is nearly impossible.

We made the choice to be a single car family to limit our environmental impact but that in itself was very challenging.

By the time our kids were independent teens, we found our own physical limitations with ageing reduced the viability of active transportation as our main approach. We could choose to move to another area but not without pushing our kids out to find their own housing.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You're saying that as if I don't understand, I have a physical disability, as well as kids and now grandkids, and being able to bike offers greater freedom than the financial burden of a car, most people cannot handle the financial burden of a car, including one that costs $5000 + ongoing insurance premiums.

Stats Canada says that the majority of people are only using their cars for very short trips. We're talking less than 15 minutes. Some use it for less than a half hour and even fewer use it for an hour or longer. The problem is we've gotten used to taking the car for everything, including those less than 15 minute trips. Even if you weren't physically able to be a pedestrian, you still have options, and if not, we should make those options available rather than restricting movement to car owners.

We have so many examples of this being accomplished all over the world and it's such a disservice to our country and our municipalities to say that it can't be done. Clearly it can be done with effort and that effort has to come from the ground roots all the way up to our municipal provincial and federal governments.

Most of what you're describing is car dependency, quite literally. We can change that as a society, but not if we continue to resign ourselves to cars.

[–] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don’t think we’re that far apart in views but we are very different in terms of who we think needs to lead the change.

I’m putting the onus on societal level changes in the built environment and acceptance of children and persons with disabilities.

You seem to be putting the onus on individuals to drive the change by personally overcoming barriers.

You are proudly talking about how you personally have overcome barriers but not everyone can. With 30% or the adult population identifying with at least one disability, it’s not a small or isolated issue.

As is said in the disability community, not everyone has the spoons and certainly not every day. Don’t shame others for what they may not be able to accomplish that you can.

The 15 minute journey problem is primarily evidence of a problem with where stores and services are located in relation to residences.

Affordability notwithstanding, bike and public transit as a person with visual, hearing or mobility limitations remain deeply challenging in most communities.

Wonderful that your children and grandchildren have been able to meet expectations or haven’t faced needs that couldn’t be accommodated. Most persons or families experiencing disabilities wouldn’t have your experience or might put their limited spoons to other priorities.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 hours ago

I don’t think we’re that far apart in views but we are very different in terms of who we think needs to lead the change.

I’m putting the onus on societal level changes in the built environment and acceptance of children and persons with disabilities.

You seem to be putting the onus on individuals to drive the change by personally overcoming barriers.

I think that both can co-exist, especially if you want to accelerate progress.

It is a shame that a great deal of the population is simply "ignored" or at least, treated as second-class, and I'm always pushing local council members, and the Regional office my municipality is in, to improve accessibility and equity for these minority groups.

It's not easy, mostly because change on a societal level can take years or decades, and I don't have enough time to wait for that.

So, I have to empower myself whenever and wherever possible. And yes, I completely understand that not everyone is in the position to do that. I don't want to undermine or downplay their struggles or needs.

I do acknowledge these challenges that you have brought up, and I strongly believe that having more options available for moving people is better than having limited options.

But my point specifically is addressing the millions of single-occupancy, short trip rides, initiated by healthy individuals. These people dominate the roadways and we really need to persuade them to get out of their cars, for everyone's sake. And the more who do, the faster infrastructure will be built that can accommodate all needs, for all ages.

City planners (at least where I live) seem to really lean on the motto that: "we build where the demand is". And even though it's painfully obvious that demand will remain low for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure if people feel unsafe, or unable to access certain infrastructure, anyone who is able to "just do it", will have an impact on the decisions of city planners moving forward.

It's maddening when I see communities where their elderly are quite literally forced to walk on the road, because no sidewalks exist. How the hell does anyone find it OK to have enough space to park idle vehicles, but not enough for kids and elderly?

Thanks for the thoughtful conversation. I hope that you and yours have a wonderful day.