Government of Canada supporting Canadian ingenuity through the Low Carbon Economy Challenge

Press Release

From: Environment and Climate Change Canada

December 20, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario

Canadians are full of good ideas—entrepreneurs and engineers across the country are brimming with ingenuity, ready to find solutions to our pressing challenges and bring them to market. Climate change is our biggest challenge and one of our biggest economic opportunities, which is why the Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects that will drive down emissions and drive job creation.

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, launched the $50 million Partnerships stream of the Low Carbon Economy Challenge. The Partnerships stream will focus on projects that will generate clean growth and reduce emissions for Indigenous communities and organizations, small and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and small municipalities. Applicants to the Partnerships stream will have until March 8, 2019, to apply, and information can be found on the Low Carbon Economy Challenge.

Canadians are feeling the effects of climate change in more frequent extreme weather—forest fires, floods and deadly heatwaves that are having real human and economic impacts on people across the country. As we look forward to 2019 and further, it’s important to invest in projects that will help Canada reduce emissions and take action on climate change.

The Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund is an important part of Canada’s climate plan. The Fund helps put the climate plan into action by leveraging investments in projects that will reduce carbon pollution, generate clean growth, save Canadians money on their energy bills and help create the jobs of the future.

Quotes

“Canadians from across the country, from all sectors and from all backgrounds, are coming up with innovative methods to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions, saving people money and creating good jobs along the way. By investing in these projects, from coast to coast to coast, the Government of Canada is making sure we are positioned to succeed in the $26 trillion global market for clean solutions and create good middle class jobs today and for the future. We’re making sure to build a healthy and strong Canada now and for our kids and our grandkids.”

– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• 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 $2 billion Low Carbon Economy Fund is divided into two parts: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.

  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:

  • Champions stream: valued at $450 million, was open to provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations.
  • Partnerships stream: valued at $50 million, launched on December 17, 2018, and will target smaller applicants, including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, smaller municipalities and towns, and Indigenous communities and organizations.

Related products

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

Contacts

Caroline Thériault
Acting Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
613-462-5473
caroline.theriault2@canada.ca

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca

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