EMC Submission on Manitoba’s 2025 National Model Codes Consultation : Manitoba’s Building Code Review Is an Opportunity to Prepare for EV Growth

Electric Mobility Canada (EMC) has submitted recommendations to the Government of Manitoba as part of its consultation on the adoption of the 2025 National Model Codes. While we welcome the proposed code updates, we believe they miss an important opportunity to deliver on a commitment the Province has already made.

In Manitoba’s 2024 Affordable Energy Plan, the Province committed to introducing EV-ready requirements in the Manitoba Building Code and Manitoba Electrical Code. The objective is simple: ensure that new residential, commercial and institutional buildings, as well as major renovation projects, include the electrical infrastructure needed to support future electric vehicle charging.

Yet no EV-ready provisions appear in the current package of proposed code amendments.

This matters because the most affordable time to prepare a building for EV charging is during construction. Installing conduit, electrical capacity and wiring pathways while a building is being built adds relatively little cost. Retrofitting the same infrastructure years later can require expensive electrical upgrades, concrete work, wall openings and disruptive construction.

The challenge is especially significant in multi-unit residential buildings such as apartments and condominiums. For many Manitobans, access to home charging will depend on decisions made during the design and construction phase. Without EV-ready infrastructure, future residents may face substantial costs and barriers when seeking to install charging equipment.

Home charging remains the foundation of EV adoption. Most EV drivers charge where they live, benefiting from convenience and lower operating costs. While Manitoba continues to invest in public charging infrastructure, public charging and home charging are complementary, not interchangeable. A successful charging network depends on widespread EV adoption, and widespread EV adoption is easier to achieve when residents have access to charging at home.

Fortunately, Manitoba does not need to start from scratch. Québec recently adopted comprehensive EV-ready requirements through changes to its construction and electrical codes. The Québec approach focuses on installing the necessary electrical infrastructure during construction while allowing charging equipment to be added later as demand grows. It is a practical, flexible and cost-effective model that Manitoba can adapt to its own circumstances.

EMC is encouraging Manitoba to use the current code review process to implement the EV-ready commitments already outlined in its Affordable Energy Plan. By acting now, the Province can reduce future costs, support housing affordability, expand consumer choice and ensure that the buildings constructed today are ready for the transportation needs of tomorrow.