Government of Canada announces funding for energy efficiency and climate action in Québec

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada is committed to working with provinces and territories to grow the economy while meeting our climate commitments and creating good jobs in communities across the country.

Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change from the Government of Québec, Isabelle Melançon, were at Ferme Lufa, in Montréal, to announce the province will receive over $260 million through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund for programs that help Québecers save money and energy, while supporting the province's climate objectives. The funding is a component of the Low Carbon Economy Fund, designed to spur clean growth and cut carbon pollution while promoting innovative climate solutions.

The Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund will create jobs, support healthier communities, and help Canadians save money. By building on provincial and territorial leadership, the Low Carbon Economy Fund will help meet Canada's commitment under the Paris Agreement and achieve our 2030 national climate target. Québec is eligible for the funding as a signatory to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

The Government of Canada will work with Québec to support reforestation efforts, put clean technologies to work across communities, businesses and in homes, and the installation of energy efficient products to help save money. Québec will also dedicate part of its Leadership Fund allocation to invest in agricultural practices that reduce emissions.

In addition to Québec, the Government of Canada is also making announcements today regarding the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund with the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Additional announcements with other provinces will follow as project proposals are finalized.

Quotes

"Investing in climate solutions and clean growth is a critical part of our made-in-Canada climate plan. The projects we are supporting through this funding will build on Quebec's climate leadership to make a real difference in the lives of Quebecers. This funding will create good jobs, spark clean economic development and help Quebecers save money on energy and fight climate change in their own communities." 
? Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"Investing in energy efficiency is important- both as a way to fight climate change and to strengthen our economy. Thanks to this funding, Quebecers will be able to save money on energy and take climate action in their own homes and businesses, all while creating jobs and promoting clean growth."
? The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport

"Quebec is a leader in the fight against climate change: ambitious targets to reduce its GHG emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, a carbon market linked to those of California and Ontario and a major action plan, the 2013-2020 Action Plan on Climate Change, guide its actions. The Quebec government is pleased that the programs supported by the Leadership Fund, including ÉcoPerformance and Biomasse forestière résiduelle, are making a significant additional contribution to the achievement of Quebec and Canada's GHG emission reduction targets for 2020 and 2030, while supporting the development of a low carbon economy."
? Isabelle Melançon, Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change from the Government of Québec

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund supports implementation of the Pan-Canadian climate plan by investing in projects that will generate clean growth and reduce carbon pollution. These investments support Canada's Paris Agreement commitment and aligns with the 2030 national climate target.
• The Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund will benefit Québecers by:
• Improving the major programs in Quebec for the construction, industry, forestry and agriculture sectors, as well as making additional, tangible reductions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For example, there will be improvements to the Ecoperformance and forest biomass programs, a component of the Prime-Vert program, and afforestation/reforestation activities in Quebec's forests; and
• Creating a new program for the manufacture, deployment and implementation of clean technologies, which is currently being developed.
• In total, Québec estimates projects supported by the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund will create over 20,000 jobs.

Associated Links

• Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund
• The Low Carbon Economy Fund
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada