Quebec and pollution pricing

Protecting the environment and growing the economy go together. In 2016, the federal government worked with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples on Canada’s first comprehensive climate action plan, which includes a stringent, fair, and efficient price on carbon pollution.  

As part of Canada’s plan, provinces and territories had the flexibility over two years to maintain or develop a carbon-pollution pricing system that works for their circumstances, provided it meets the federal standard.

Quebec has been a leader in pricing carbon pollution in Canada. Quebec’s cap-and-trade system has been in place since 2013 and meets the federal benchmark stringency requirements.

Please contact the Province of Quebec for additional details and information on its carbon pollution pricing system and programs.

Canada’s clean growth investments in Quebec

The Government of Canada is supporting climate action in Quebec with over $260 million under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. This funding will create new jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province, with a focus on energy efficiency and carbon-sequestration projects. Energy efficiency helps families save money and businesses cut costs.

Since 2016, the Government of Canada has allocated over $6.1 billion for investments in public-transit projects throughout Quebec. Through this funding, Laval has added 22 hybrid buses to their fleet. Investments have also supported Montréal in adding 107 hybrid buses to their fleet and refurbishing existing subways. These are ways we’re working to make sure that public transit is available for all and that people can get where they need to go, quickly and safely, while reducing pollution. It’s part of the Government’s Investing in Canada Plan.

The Government of Canada has allocated $1.8 billion for investments in green infrastructure in Quebec for projects that reduce emissions, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, or provide additional environmental benefits such as clean air and clean water. The gouvernments of Quebec and Canada are working together to fund priority projects that will help reduce pollution and grow the economy.

Investing in new technologies is also critical to Canada’s economic and environmental plan.

• Natural Resources Canada invested $1.89 billion through clean-technology research, development, and demonstration programs, in Domtar’s Windsor Mill, which is converting wood biomass into advanced bio fuels. New biofuel products help Canadian industry and can significantly reduce emissions.
• Sustainable Development Technology Canada has invested $2.9 million in Raymor Industries, a company that is improving the storage capacity of the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and electric bikes.

To protect Canadians from the impacts of climate change, Canada has set aside $1.25 million over five years to support Ouranos, a climate-expert organization in Quebec, in jointly delivering climate services with the Government of Canada’s Canadian Centre for Climate Services. In addition, other initiatives to increase resilience to climate impacts within Québec include efforts to address urban-heat island effects in Montréal and Québec, where deadly heatwaves hit this summer, developing a housing vulnerability assessment tool for First Nation communities, and assessing the flood vulnerability of communities along the St. Lawrence River to protect the homes and farms along its banks.