As wildfire seasons become longer and more extreme, the Government of Canada is focused on keeping people safe while strengthening our long-term response. Canada faces a current wildfire season that has already been the most severe in its history. Alongside our international partners, we are committed to strengthening cross-border cooperation and wildland fire resource sharing.
On behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Canada officials held a technical briefing to provide an updated forecast for the remainder of the 2023 wildfire season.
Taleeb Noormohamed, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $3.5-million contribution to the construction of 2150 Keith Drive, an innovative hybrid mass timber commercial office building in Vancouver’s False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The contribution will be made through the Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) Program that supports projects and activities that increase the use of wood as a low-carbon construction material in infrastructure projects.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), today announced a total contribution of $10.5 million to CARBONITY for its new project to transform wood residues into value-added biochar products that sequester carbon.
Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources; the Honourable Greg Nesbitt, Manitoba’s Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development; and the Honourable Kevin Klein, Manitoba’s Minister of Environment and Climate, announced Manitoba’s multi-year tree-planting agreement, which benefits from a federal contribution of $8.85 million under the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program. Additionally, the Government of Manitoba is contributing $8.85 million to this initiative.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, launched a call for proposals for project funding through the Climate Change Adaptation Program, a five-year initiative aimed at helping Canada’s regions and sectors adapt to a changing climate. The program, which is in support of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, will fund the development of tools and resources on topics such as adaptation skills, economics, natural resource sectors and emerging adaptation issues.
The Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Ottawa – Vanier and, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced funding to install 133 new EV chargers in Ottawa.
With on-road transportation accounting for about 20 percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Canada must undertake a transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and, where necessary in the near term, lower-carbon options for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. In addition, clean fuels, such as clean hydrogen, advanced biofuels, liquid synthetic fuels and renewable natural gas will play a critical role in hard to decarbonize sectors such as industry and medium- and heavy-duty freight.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $50-million contribution to the Bekevar Wind Power Project, delivered in partnership with the Cowessess First Nation and Innagreen Investments. This builds on a $173-million federal investment from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced funding in HTEC to install a hydrogen refuelling station located at a 7-Eleven/ESSO, off the Trans-Canada Highway in Kelowna, B.C.
