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Ottawa, March 22nd, 2016 - Équiterre is satisfied with the first budget of the Trudeau government, tabled today by Minister Bill Morneau. Équiterre estimates that over $4 billion will be invested in 2016-17 in public transit, combatting climate change, electrification of transport and clean water in Canadian municipalities and First Nations communities.
"This is good progress” stated Steven Guilbeault from Équiterre. “The investments presented today in Minister Morneau’s budget represent an important federal contribution towards the pancanadian framework on climate change as well as the necessary transition towards a low-carbon economy” added Mr. Guilbeault..”
“Équiterre also welcomes investments in science, climate change research, clean technologies as well as the federal contribution of $2billion towards the new Low Carbon Economy Trust” stated Annie Bérubé, director of government relations in Équiterre’s Ottawa office.
A few disappointments
Despite Canada’s commitments at the G20 in 2009, reiterated at the climate conference in Paris last December, no progress has been made in phasing out federal subsidies to the fossil fuel sector. The federal government announced that such reform would be completed by 2025, while other G20 countries have committed to phasing out their fossil fuel subsidies by 2020. In addition, the federal government did not announce a reform of the public financing portfolio of Export Development Canada, which continues to provide financing for fossil fuel exports by Canadian companies.
A consistent fiscal approach is necessary to support investments in clean energy. Government support to the fossil fuel sector is not consistent with the transition to the low-carbon economy.
In addition to the measures noted above, the federal budget includes over $500 million to support energy retrofits in social housing, $1,7 billion for the development of clean technologies in the forestry, agri-food and energy sectors.
For more information :
Dale Robertson, Équiterre
514 605-2000
drobertson@equiterre.org
