Canada confronts shortage of trained technicians as electric vehicles multiply

Canada’s push toward 75 percent electric vehicle sales by 2035 is outpacing the training capacity for technicians, according to a Pollution Probe analysis that flags deficiencies in high-voltage safety and battery diagnostics education. Marc Saleh of the think-tank notes that manufacturers currently control most EV training, while Emily Chung of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada points to a lack of standardisation and costly proprietary information.

Independent garages like Andrew Ackers’ NAPA AutoPro shop are adopting the Next Drive curriculum, which costs about $20,000 per technician but can certify most high-voltage repairs after a week of study. Community colleges such as Vancouver Community College and Centennial College are expanding curricula and building new facilities to prepare both new apprentices and Red Seal-certified mechanics. The report recommends embedding EV content into trade programs to sustain the nation’s clean-energy transition.