Government Invests $21.9 Billion through Budget 2017 to Support Green Infrastructure

April 4, 2017                                                      Ottawa                                      Natural Resources Canada

The Government of Canada continues to support green infrastructure in the transportation sector that will advance Canada’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, support Canadian technology and create good jobs for middle-class Canadians.

Budget 2017’s proposal to invest $21.9 billion over 11 years in green infrastructure includes funding for a national electric and alternative fuel network, advancing the Government’s objective to reduce GHG emissions under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. These proposed green infrastructure investments in alternative fuelling networks, technology demonstration projects, energy efficiency standards, renewable energy demonstration projects, and smart grids, will create jobs while reducing GHG emissions. Green infrastructure funding is also proposed to reduce the use of diesel in remote communities and help communities deal with the effects of climate change.

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, highlighted the Government’s investment today, and also announced $3.25 million in funding for electric and alternative fuel vehicle information technology, which supports the Government’s strategy to make our transportation system cleaner and more efficient. Funded under Budget 2016, this technology – developed by FleetCarma, a Waterloo-based clean tech information and communications technology company – will collect data when installed on an electric vehicle and manage workplace charging loads.

Building on Budget 2016’s investment of $62.5 million over two years to support electric and alternative fuel vehicle infrastructure, Budget 2017 proposes an additional $120-million for a national recharging and refuelling network for electric, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles, and technology demonstration projects.