Department of Natural Resources
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Released: 28 October, 2002

Government Of Canada Announces $35-Million Investment In Climate Change Programs

TORONTO — Innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions received a boost today. Julian Reed, Member of Parliament for Halton, announced Government of Canada investments in programs to tackle climate change in the electricity market and the minerals and metals sector on behalf of the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. Mr. Reed made the announcement while speaking at the Green Power Trade Show in Toronto.

“The growing market for emerging renewable energy will help individuals, consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that will reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutants in Canada,” said Minister Anderson. “The Market Incentive Program will assist distributors of emerging renewable energy to attract more residential and small-business customers. By working together, governments, industry and consumers can meet the challenge of climate change and promote a healthier environment for future generations.”

“Finding innovative solutions to today’s challenges is our best bet for the future,” said Minister Dhaliwal. “But as you know, it doesn’t just happen. It requires ideas and talent. And it requires the cooperation and commitment of all players. That is why the Government of Canada is investing in these programs.”

These Government of Canada investments totalling $35 million are part of the $500-million Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, a series of practical, concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

The Government will invest $25 million in a program to encourage electric utilities and marketers to promote electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass. The Market Incentive Program (MIP) aims to establish these sources as full-fledged competitors in the electricity market by 2010, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. Funding is available through the MIP until March 31, 2006.

Four projects worth a total of $10 million are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the minerals and metals sector. The projects focus on increasing awareness of how to reduce emissions in the sector, promoting supplementary cementing materials to replace Portland cement in concrete and mortar, increasing recycling of minerals and metals, and educating engineers and builders about the energy-saving benefits of concrete roads.

The announced initiatives build on the Government of Canada’s commitments to ensuring the quality of life in our communities, a healthy environment and continued economic prosperity. Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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