Critical minerals are key enablers of clean technologies, like batteries, and clean energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels, which are essential to achieving a net-zero-emissions future. Canada’s critical minerals sector has tremendous opportunities that remain underdeveloped. This is largely because critical minerals deposits are often located in remote areas with challenging terrain and limited access to enabling infrastructure, such as roads or grid connectivity. Canada is already a leading supplier of sustainably sourced minerals and materials and is committed to making strategic investments to reinforce our position and drive job creation and economic growth.
That is why today, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced that the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) will begin accepting applications when it opens its first call for proposals in late fall 2023.
Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, attended the Energy Innovation Forum’s Smart Grids Conference in Moncton, New Brunswick, and announced the launch of a smart grid call for proposals.
The Government of Canada is committed to planting two billion trees across the country, which is why the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Jess Kaknevicius, CEO of Forests Ontario, today announced a joint commitment to plant 31 million trees across the country through the
2 Billion Trees program. The Government of Canada will cover 50 percent of the project costs for this $123-million project and Forests Ontario will work with corporate supporters, partners, and donors across the country to contribute the balance.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Scott Pearce, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, announced a series of investments totalling $82,300 through the Green Municipal Fund’s Sustainable Affordable Housing initiative to support the exploration of more affordable and energy-saving housing options in Atlantic Canada.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced $7.8 million in funding for 10 projects through the Multi-Partner Research Initiative (MPRI) to help improve oil spill research and response tools and techniques.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced an investment of $2.5 million for the City of Lac-Mégantic to support capacity-building activities that will increase the knowledge and skills related to the city’s microgrid. Hydro-Québec also contributed to this project, bringing the total investment to $3.75 million.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Scott Pearce, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, announced a $13.5-million investment in five Alberta communities through the Green Municipal Fund’s Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative.
Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton, on the behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, along with the Halton Region Conservation Authority (HRCA) and Trees for Halton Hills, announced a joint investment of more than $1.6 million for two projects that will see more than 122,345 trees planted across Halton Region.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, met with the Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia; the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables of Nova Scotia; and the Honourable Blaine Higgs, Premier of New Brunswick, to discuss the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030 and the drive to net-zero electricity by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050 in a manner that is affordable for all Nova Scotians and New Brunswickers.
Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Richard Mostyn, Yukon’s Minister of Community Services, announced a joint investment of more than $1.1 million under the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program to plant 400,000 trees on public lands to support community resilience to climate impacts and natural disturbances.
