CBTU Brief: Government of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan
* French to follow
Today, the Government of Canada delivered an update climate plan – A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Environment – coinciding with the five-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The plan builds on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change which was released in 2016 and included new announcements alongside previously made commitments including ones in the Fall Economic Statement.
The announcement included additional funding of $15.2 billion to address climate change and meet emissions targets for 2030 as mandated by the Paris Agreement, achieving the government’s climate objectives alongside its economic objectives. While announcements for increased funding for building retrofits, carbon capture and storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure are positive, increased carbon pricing (which is currently still under review by the Supreme Court) causes concern for natural resource development. The oil and gas industry, mining, and overall natural resource development creates thousands of good jobs for building trades members and helps to meet Canada’s growing energy needs. We will continue to advocate to the government that steps towards greening our economy must not be done to the detriment of good jobs.
Key Points:
- Reduce Canada’s emissions to 31 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 – 30 per cent was what was committed in the Paris Agreement.
- Increase the carbon price by $15 per year, starting in 2023 rising to $170 per tonne in 2030. The rebates from carbon price revenues will now be sent quarterly instead of annually.
- $3 billion to help industries like steel and oil decrease their emissions by implementing tools such as carbon capture technology.
- $1.5 billion in grants for renewable energy projects (for example, biofuel and hydrogen).
- $964 million over four years to expand clean electricity grids and improve power storage.
- Additional funding for energy efficient building renovations:
- $2.6 billion over seven years announced in the fall fiscal update for home retrofits;
- $1.5 billion for community buildings like arenas and not-for-profit centres;
- $2 billion for commercial building retrofits.
- The government will work to develop a national active transportation strategy.
These initiatives and commitments by the government will have notable impacts on our industry. We will continue to speak with the government to advocate for the building trades and to ensure that jobs are not lost or negatively impacted through these steps.
See the full updated climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Environment here.
Sincerely,
Sean
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CBTU Statement on Government of Canada’s Climate Policy Update
Today, the Government of Canada announced changes to their climate plan. Increased funding for commercial building retrofits, carbon capture technology and electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure are welcomed, as they will help to support Canada’s climate goals while creating job opportunities for skilled trades workers members. However, the reality is that the natural resource sector is key to Canada’s economy and meeting our growing energy needs. It has been particularly hard hit from the onset of COVID-19 and before, and thousands of skilled trades workers in the oil and gas sector are without work. The Government needs to do more than issue a statement about creating jobs; but must align their climate strategy to secure the middle-class jobs that work in the resource sector. Workers need to continue to be brought to the table and be part of the decision-making process as we move towards a greener world.
- Sean Strickland, Executive Director, Canada’s Building Trades Unions
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