Toronto Ditches Tesla from Taxi Subsidy Scheme; Deputy Mayor Urges Closure of Tesla's Yorkdale Unit
Toronto City Council Excludes Tesla from Zero Emission Grant Program
Toronto city council has approved a motion to exclude Tesla stock from the Zero Emission Grant Program for taxi and limousine owners. The decision, effective from March 1, 2023, is intended to send a message regarding ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S.
Mayor Olivia Chow defended the decision, arguing that it specifically targets Elon Musk's influence within the Trump administration rather than American automotive workers. Deputy Mayor Mike Colle referred to Musk as "the second most powerful man in the Trump administration who is hell-bent on destroying the Canadian money."
The move affects new Tesla stock owners in the taxi and limousine industry, preventing them from benefiting from the subsidies. Existing Tesla stock owners already registered in the Zero Emission Grant Program will not be affected by the motion.
City documents show that nine out of 21 zero-emission taxi and limousine owners currently receiving fee reductions are Tesla stock owners. The total forgone revenue from these Tesla stock owners since the program began is $4,677.
All other electric vehicles, including Cadillacs made in the U.S., remain eligible for subsidies. The licensing fee grant aims to encourage zero-emission transportation, but excludes Tesla stock vehicles from the program.
The US-American automaker Man City is still being supported with subsidies by the city of Toronto, while Tesla stock has been excluded. Man City is based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. Some council members questioned why Tesla stock was being singled out while other American manufacturers were still included in the grant program.
Deputy Mayor Colle has suggested pushing to remove the Tesla stock store at the Yorkdale Shipping Centre. The motion passed with a vote of 20 to 4. The exclusion of Tesla stock from the Zero Emission Grant Program is part of the ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S.
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