As the third most-forested country in the world, Canada is the steward of nine percent of the world’s forests and has a role to play in forest conservation and sustainable forest management globally.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the release of the Canada in a Changing Climate: Synthesis Report, the summary report of Canada’s National Knowledge Assessment of how and why Canada’s climate is changing; the impacts of these changes on our communities, environment, and economy; and how we are adapting. This report will help inform and support adaptation to climate change across the country.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced the launch of the Fighting and Managing Wildfire in a Changing Climate Program — Training Fund (FMWCC) call for applications. Under this program, the Government of Canada will provide funding to train 1,000 firefighters to help reduce the risks of wildfires and support community-based capacity to mitigate, prepare and respond to wildfires on an ongoing basis.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a $1-million investment over two years to the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining (BRIMM) to support the development and increased offering of its Executive Microcertificate in Economic Leadership for Mining program.
Critical minerals are key enablers of clean technologies and clean energy sources, which are essential to achieving a net-zero-emissions future. Driven by emerging due-diligence concerns in the critical minerals supply chains, the traceability of critical minerals — to ensure transparency and to promote high environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices in mining — is critical to Canada.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on offshore wind to enable Newfoundland and Labrador to take the regulatory lead on offshore wind projects within its inland bays to enable the development of offshore wind projects in Newfoundland that will power Newfoundland’s economy forward. They were joined by the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister responsible for Labour and Seniors.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, highlighted how the government’s economic plan will take further action to support the middle class and make buildings and homes more energy-efficient as part of the 2023 Fall Economic Statement.
That is why, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the launch of the Call for Proposals (CFP) of the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF). The CMIF will address key infrastructure gaps to enable sustainable critical minerals production and to connect resources to markets. With up to $1.5 billion available over seven years, the fund will support clean energy and electrification initiatives as well as transportation and infrastructure projects that will enable the sustainable development of Canada’s critical minerals.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Pierre Charron, Mayor of Saint-Eustache, announced a joint investment of more than $250,000 to plant 10,000 trees on 24 public sites covering 9.5 hectares in order to strengthen community resilience to the impacts of climate change and natural disturbances.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and FCM President Scott Pearce announced a $5 million federal investment for retrofits to the Fountain Park Recreation Centre in St. Albert, Alberta, through the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Buildings Retrofit initiative.