TORONTO — The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, and Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today launched the Government of Canada’s new ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative. The $97-million program will invest in research, development and demonstration projects for clean energy technologies that will create high-quality jobs for Canadians.
“Canadians gave our Government a strong mandate to complete our economic recovery and focus on continued job growth,” said Minister Oliver, speaking in Toronto. “Support for clean energy technology is an effective way to both reduce emissions and create high-quality jobs for Canadians.”
“The Harper Government is playing a leadership role in driving innovation in Canada’s clean energy industries,” said MP Gourde, speaking in Quebec City. “Support for the research and development phase through to the demonstration stage is integral to bringing cutting-edge technologies to market.”
The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan promotes job creation through investments in clean energy technology. The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative will advance energy technologies that produce and use energy in a cleaner and more efficient way. Selected projects will focus on research, development and demonstration in five key areas: energy efficiency in buildings, communities, industry and transportation; clean electricity and renewables; bioenergy; research and development of electric vehicles; and unconventional oil and gas.
An initial call for Letters of Interest in the program was announced today. More information can be found at ecoenergyinnovation.nrcan.gc.ca.
- 30 -
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver and MP Jacques Gourde today launched the Government of Canada’s new ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative. The program will invest in research, development and demonstration projects for clean energy technologies that will create high-quality jobs for Canadians while protecting our environment for future generations.
Media may contact:
Julie Di Mambro
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
The general public may contact:
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. EDT
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
(teletype for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media:
The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative
NRCan’s news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
