For seven years, the Government of Canada has been working on strategies, investing and improving regulations to help Canada become the clean energy and technology supplier of choice in a net-zero world. This plan features partnership with provinces and territories, including via the Regional Energy and Resource Tables. It also includes the February 2023 release of the Interim Sustainable Jobs Plan, which spoke to the work to be done to seize the economic opportunities that will be enabled through a move to a low-carbon future.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, met with Jozef Síkela, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, to discuss the importance of international collaboration on global energy security and the transition to net zero. Their discussion focused on how Europe, the Czech Republic and Canada can strengthen their cooperation to ensure a more resilient and sustainable energy policy, increase critical mineral supply chains and advance the fight against climate change through clean technology and energy. The Ministers also signalled their desire to work together on topics of common interest, including hydrogen and critical minerals.
At the Retrofit Canada Conference in Montreal, Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced a second call for proposals under the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program, focused on demonstration projects. This call will support up to six aggregated deep energy retrofit projects in communities across the country. Targeting clusters of low-rise community housing buildings of 100 or more units per demonstration site, the proposals will explore innovative, cost-effective pathways and construction approaches for more affordable and efficient building renovations.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced funding of over $3.6 million to International Paper Company, in collaboration with Via Separations Inc., for the implementation of a first-of-its-kind filtration technology aimed at reducing the energy intensity and carbon emissions associated with the kraft pulping process. The project is funded through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, which aims to create a more competitive and resilient forest sector focusing on low-carbon projects that result in new or diversified revenue streams.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, announced a combined total investment of over $960,000 for three energy-modelling projects with leading organizations across Canada. Energy models are an important tool in planning the pathways to net zero as they use data and software to demonstrate potential outcomes related to changes in the energy system. Together, these projects provide greater insights to inform the future of Canada’s action on clean energy markets, technologies and policies.
Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced over $30 million for job-creation and training opportunities over the next two years for youth in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and other related fields in the natural resource sectors that have positive environmental outcomes.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources; the Honourable Bill Blair, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness; the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development; the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, provided an update on the wildfire seasonal outlook and the Government of Canada’s continuing efforts to support Canadians through this year’s fire season and future seasons.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and Bob Young, Mayor of the City of Leduc, announced a $363,000 contribution to Leduc’s Urban Tree Canopy Expansion project. Leduc will plant 20,000 trees supported by federal funding through the 2 Billion Trees program.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, announced $650,000 in funding for QUEST Canada to evolve and adapt its Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy (AIRE) for Indigenous Communities project to expand knowledge of local energy systems and developing pathways to accelerate clean energy opportunities in their community.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources; the Honourable Bill Blair, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness; the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services; the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance; and the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, provided an update on the actions that the Government of Canada has taken so far to support communities impacted and threatened by wildfires and how it will continue to support Canadians through this year’s fire season and future seasons.
