FREDERICTON — The budget released this week delivers on the federal government’s commitments to act on climate change and begin transitioning Canada to a low carbon economy.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s first budget included significant investments in clean energy research and development, energy efficiency, and green infrastructure projects such as electric vehicle charging stations.
It also creates a Low Carbon Economy Fund, providing $2-billion over two years to support provinces and territories in reducing their carbon pollution emissions, something the Conservation Council has long called for.
“This budget lays down the building blocks for creating a clean energy economy in Canada and for getting serious about acting on the challenges and opportunities of climate change,” says Executive Director Lois Corbett. “Setting up a low carbon fund and spending on clean tech innovations and energy efficiency sets us up to meet the commitments the Prime Minister made last December in Paris.”
Other highlights from the budget include:
- Spending $1 billion on clean technologies in the resource, energy, and agriculture sectors
- Spending $3.4 billion to address climate change, protect sensitive ecosystems, and “build trust in the environmental assessment process.”
- Committing to energy retrofits for existing social housing
- Investing in science and returning support for basic scientific research
- Spending $5 billion in green infrastructure projects that help support Canada’s transition to a clean growth economy
- Providing $81.3-million over five years to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Natural Resources Canada to support marine conservation activities, including the designation of new Marine Protected Areas.
The Conservation Council looks forward to the opportunities these initiatives will bring about for New Brunswickers and our province.
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick
Established in 1969, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick has remained the province’s leading public advocate for environmental protection. A member of the UN’s Global 500 Roll of Honour, we work to find practical solutions to help families and citizens, educators, governments and businesses protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, the precious marine ecosystem and the land, including the forest, that support us.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Jon MacNeill, Communications Officer | 458-8747 | 261-1353 | jon.macneill@conservationcouncil.ca