The Western Hoser

Canada’s political and media elite have unfairly targeted Tesla, a global innovator, with baseless accusations. On March 25, 2025, Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland froze C$43 million in Tesla’s rebate claims, suggesting possible fraud—a narrative amplified by CBC and the Toronto Star (Business Insider). Conservative leader Andrew Scheer later claimed Liberal EV mandates effectively funnel up to C$20,000 per vehicle to Tesla, linking it to Elon Musk’s 2024 support for Donald Trump. But on July 11, 2025, Transport Canada officially cleared Tesla’s 8,600 rebate claims as legitimate—affirming they represented actual sales before the January deadline (Tesery Official Store). Freeland, Canada’s press, and Scheer owe Tesla—and Musk—an apology.

Freeland’s Unfounded Charges

On January 12, 2025, the federal iZEV rebate program closed, with Tesla submitting 8,600 claims worth C$43 million just before the cutoff (Coast Reporter). On March 25, Freeland froze these rebates and barred Tesla from future programs, citing “suspicious” patterns in the context of U.S.–Canada trade dynamics (Reuters). Dealers were hit with about C$11 million in unpaid rebates, expenses later reimbursed (EVXL.co).

But Transport Canada’s July 11 review found no fraud: “claims were determined to legitimately represent cars sold before January 12,” validating Tesla’s claims (Teslarati). The timing of the filings—massive rebates on the final weekend—prompted reasonable scrutiny(Reddit), but the underlying data proved legitimate.

With Canada trading over 75% of its C$600 billion exports to the U.S., Freeland’s allegations risked undermining economic ties purely for domestic headline-grabbing.

Media Amplification Without Evidence

The Toronto Star broke the initial rebate spike story, and CBC portrayed Tesla as gaming the system—both echoing Freeland’s framing (Coast Reporter, EVXL.co). Neither outlet confirmed whether individual claims were vetted, instead amplifying suspicion that later proved unsubstantiated.

They ignored Tesla’s role in advancing Canada’s EV sector and the economic contribution of its workforce. Online backlash on X accused the media of “bias” and “incompetence”—signals of widespread public distrust in the coverage.

Scheer’s Misleading Attack

Andrew Scheer condemned EV mandates, claiming they could channel C$20,000 per vehicle to Tesla through auto-maker credit systems (ourcommons.ca). This inflates Tesla’s actual Canadian gains, which arise from modest global credit sales of US$1–2 billion annually, not mandated payments at such extremes.

Furthermore, Scheer’s narrative assumes Musk’s politics align with the Liberal government—despite Musk’s high-profile endorsement and US$300 million spending on Trump’s 2024 campaign —a misalignment ignored to serve partisan messaging.

The result: both factions undermined Canada’s economy via political signals (“elbows up”) instead of focusing on innovation and trade stability.

Accountability & Apology

Freeland’s ill-founded freeze burdened dealerships with millions in cash flow disruption. Media narratives spread unfounded doubts. Scheer’s rhetoric risked alienating a key U.S. innovator. Canada needs a rational, evidence-based trade policy—not aggressive positioning.

It’s time for Chrystia Freeland, CBC, the Toronto Star, and Andrew Scheer to publicly apologize to Tesla and Elon Musk. This would signal a return to credibility, reinforce support for innovation, and restore trust in journalism and policymaking.

Conclusion

Transport Canada’s July 11, 2025 clearance underscores the legitimacy of Tesla’s C$43 million in rebate claims. Freeland’s fraud allegations, media amplification, and Scheer’s misleading comments now appear as political posturing—distracting from Canada’s economic advantage in supporting EV innovation. Let’s prioritize fact, not faction, and stop punishing progress with speculation.

Notes & Sources

• Frozen C$43M in rebate claims — Transport Canada confirms legitimacy (July 11, 2025) (Reddit)
• Freeze announced March 25, 2025; rebate spike from 300 to 5,800/day (Business Insider)
• Scheer’s C$20,000 figure inaccurate; Musk’s Trump support ~US$300M (EVXL.co)