Federal actions to address climate change and support a clean, healthy environment

The Government of Canada is working to reduce climate-harming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while supporting our transition to a strong, clean economy. The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change includes a variety of measures that will reduce emissions, invest in clean technologies and provide a strong economy for today and the future. Through this plan, the Government of Canada will:

• Put a price on carbon pollution
• Introduce laws and regulations that will help to further reduce Canada’s industrial emissions
• Provide financial support to help Canadian companies adopt low-carbon practices, like energy efficiency and switching to cleaner fuels
• Invest to support the development and expansion of Canada’s clean technology sector
• Invest in infrastructure to enable Canadians to more easily make low-carbon choices, like electric vehicle charging stations

To ensure that Canada’s communities are healthy and productive places to live, Budget 2016 announced investments of $5 billion over five years in infrastructure that protects communities and supports Canada’s ongoing transition to a clean growth economy.

To further advance Canada’s efforts to build a clean economy and meet the goals outlined in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Budget 2017 lays out the Government’s plan to invest $21.9 billion over 11 years. This includes approximately $17 billion in infrastructure investments to support Canada’s transition to a clean economy:

• Bilateral agreements: $9.2 billion will be provided to provinces and territories over the next 11 years to support priority projects, including those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deliver clean water, safely manage wastewater, help communities prepare for challenges that result from climate change, and help build cleaner, better-connected electricity systems.
• The Canada Infrastructure Bank: At least $5 billion will be available over the next 11 years for green infrastructure projects, including those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deliver clean air and safe water systems, and promote renewable power.
• National programs: $2.8 billion will be invested over the next 11 years through a series of national programs:
  • $100 million to support next generation smart grid, storage and clean electricity technology demonstration projects.
  • $200 million to support the deployment of emerging renewable energy technologies nearing commercialization.
  • $220 million to reduce the reliance of rural and remote communities south of the 60th parallel on diesel fuel, and support the use of more sustainable, renewable power solutions.
  • $120 million to put in place infrastructure for electric vehicle charging and natural gas and hydrogen refuelling stations, as well as to support technology demonstration projects.
  • $182 million to develop and implement new building codes to retrofit existing buildings and build new net-zero energy consumption buildings across Canada.
  • $2 billion for a Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to support national, provincial and municipal infrastructure required to deal with the effects of a changing climate.

Budget 2017 is also taking steps to boost the growth of Canada’s clean technology sector by fostering the growth of Canadian technologies and companies. This includes a number of investments:

• Making available nearly $1.4 billion in new financing through the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada to help clean tech firms grow and expand.
• $400 million over five years, starting in 2017-18, to recapitalize Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s SD Tech Fund.
• $229 million over four years, starting in 2018-19 to Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada to continue research and development of clean energy and clean transportation innovations.
• $200 million over four years, starting in 2017-18 to Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support clean technology research, development, deployment demonstration and adoption of clean technology in Canada’s natural resource sectors.
• To attract and support new high-quality business investments in the aerospace and automotive sectors as well as dynamic and emerging sectors, such as clean technology, Budget 2017 proposes to create a new five-year $1.26 billion Strategic Innovation Fund.
•  To support a small number of business-led innovation “superclusters” that have the greatest potential to accelerate economic growth, Budget 2017 proposes to invest up to $950 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to be provided on a competitive basis, focusing on highly innovative sectors such as clean technology and clean resources.
• To help focus and accelerate efforts toward solving Canada’s big challenges, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $75 million over two years, starting in 2017-18, for clean tech challenges.

The Government of Canada is taking significant action to address climate change by providing $2 billion through the Low Carbon Economy Fund to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Canada transition towards a low carbon economy. The Low Carbon Economy Fund will help advance a truly pan-Canadian approach to addressing climate change.

In addition to these financial commitments, the Government has also taken steps to position Canada as a true leader in clean growth:

• The comprehensive Oceans Protection Plan—the most significant investment ever made to protect our oceans and coastlines—will protect the environment, ensure efficient transportation, maintain public safety, and create good, well-paying jobs.
• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of fuel, and to promote cleaner technologies, the Government is establishing a clean fuel standard.
• The Government has also announced its intention to accelerate the replacement of coal-generated electricity by 2030.