Government of Canada supports climate action by City of Regina

REGINA, Feb. 12, 2019 /CNW/ - Saskatchewan is experiencing first-hand the consequences of climate change, with the increasing frequency and severity of damaging weather cycles?from costly storms and floods to droughts and wildfires. That's why the Government of Canada is working with local businesses, cities and towns, Indigenous communities, universities, schools, and hospitals to reduce pollution, improve our health, and make life more affordable.

Today, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced support for climate action by the City of Regina. Almost $1.3 million in funding will help expand Regina's successful landfill-gas-collection system. The system collects methane emitted by the landfill, reducing air pollution by preventing this potent greenhouse gas from being released into the atmosphere. The expansion project is an example of investing in practical solutions that will reduce carbon pollution by up to 30 percent.

The funding comes from the Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund?an important part of Canada's climate plan. Through the Fund, the Government invests in projects that reduce carbon pollution, save money, and create good jobs in a clean economy.

Canada's climate plan puts our country on track to protecting the environment while growing the economy, and the plan is working. We are taking practical and affordable measures to fight climate change, and the economy has generated over 800,000 jobs across the country. Starting this year, individuals may be eligible to receive a climate action incentive payment, which will give most families more than they'll pay under the new federal carbon-pollution pricing system. On average, the payments will provide $609 this year to an average Saskatchewan family of four.

Quotes

"The most obvious impact of climate change in Saskatchewan is the increasing frequency and severity of damaging weather, including storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires. The costs in the last few years have added up to hundreds of millions of dollars. So doing nothing about climate change is not cost-free. By supporting innovative projects like Regina's landfill-gas-collection system, we can avoid some of those costs, while growing our economy."
? Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Regina-Wascana

"The Landfill Gas to Energy Project has been an unqualified success for the City of Regina, significantly reducing the methane gases produced by the landfill by 30 percent while also providing a financial benefit to our residents. This project has been a major advancement in protecting our environment, and we will continue to make a greener future for the next generation through this expansion."
? Michael Fougere, Mayor of Regina

Quick facts

• The City of Regina will receive almost $1.3 million in funding through the Low Carbon Economy Challenge's Champions stream.
• The project will expand the landfill-gas-collection system at Regina's landfill, with up to 30 new gas wells and associated infrastructure.
• The project will increase the collection and combustion of methane gas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent, and reduce odours.
• According to Clean Energy Canada, the energy-efficiency measures in Canada's climate plan will help improve Canada's economy and environment between now and 2030 by creating 118,000 new jobs, boosting our GDP by $356 billion, and saving Canadian households an average of $114 a year. The economic benefits of energy efficiency are enormous for Canadians. Every $1 spent on energy efficiency generates approximately $7 of GDP.
• The Low Carbon Economy Fund is divided into two parts:

1. The Leadership Fund provides up to $1.4 billion to provinces and territories to leverage investments in projects and programs that will generate clean growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support the Pan-Canadian Framework.
2. The Challenge provides over $500 million in funding to support projects that will leverage ingenuity across the country to reduce emissions and generate clean growth.
   The Challenge is being delivered through two streams.

• The Champions stream, valued at $450 million, was open to provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations.
• The Partnerships stream, valued at $50 million, was launched on December 20, 2018. It is targeting smaller applicants including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, smaller municipalities, and Indigenous communities and organizations.

Associated links

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

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada