00:00Donna, vehicles are Canada's second largest export by value at $51 billion.
00:04The vast majority of those, 93%, go to the U.S.
00:09Transport Canada is freezing rebate payments for Tesla until each claim is individually investigated.
00:15Canada's federal government has halted $43 million in electric vehicle, EV, rebate payments to Tesla
00:22and banned the company from future incentive programs,
00:25citing concerns over illegitimate U.S. tariffs and a suspicious surge in rebate claims.
00:33Canada Prime Minister says that this is direct attack of Trump to heavy percent tariff on Canada.
00:39President Trump announced 25% tariffs against our auto industry.
00:46And this is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack.
00:51Freeland tied the ban to escalating U.S.-Canada trade tensions,
00:55noting Tesla's exclusion will persist as long as President Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian goods remain.
01:04Tesla, led by Trump ally Elon Musk, denies wrongdoing,
01:08calling the claims a misunderstanding and attributing the spike to backlogged paperwork.
01:14Provincial governments are also distancing themselves.
01:17British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba have excluded Tesla from regional rebates,
01:24citing Musk's political ties and trade retaliation.
01:28Public perception of Tesla in Canada has plummeted,
01:32with used Tesla prices dropping 22% and sales declining 70% since January.
01:39As Canada heads into a pivotal federal election, April 28th,
01:45EV policy remains a flashpoint,
01:48with parties divided on rebate expansions versus protections for domestic industries.
01:54For now, Tesla's Canadian ambitions face roadblocks, both financial and political.
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