Clean Energy Canada | Federal budget lays foundation for a cleaner, fairer Canada
April 19, 2021

VICTORIA — Merran Smith, executive director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the federal government’s 2021 budget:

“Canada’s first federal budget in two years lays the foundations for a cleaner, more competitive, and more equitable Canada.

“This is a big budget, with $17.6 billion dedicated to climate and environmental initiatives alone—initiatives that will help Canada not only meet its current climate target but accelerate toward a bolder one. Critically, the budget contains a number of strategic investments that will help create and expand the industries that will underpin a net-zero 2050.

“An additional $5 billion dedicated to the Net Zero Accelerator will not only help our cleantech companies, but also heavy industries like steel and cement as they decarbonize and grow their competitiveness in a world that wants cleaner materials. 

“Tax incentives for a number of clean energy sector industries, such as EV and battery manufacturing, renewable power, and green hydrogen, will also help ensure our best companies choose to stay here—rather than seeking a more generous playing field south of the border. 

“The additional $1 billion set aside to help large cleantech companies attract investment and scale up certainly supports this aim. After all, Canada has not always retained its most competitive companies, and we have a chance to change that.

“With the U.S. now poised to invest heavily in the EV auto industry, the battery supply chain is one such area of opportunity for Canada. A Critical Battery Minerals Centre of Excellence and funding to ramp up battery mineral processing and refining will ensure Canada is securing jobs and economic value in the growing battery industry. 

“The federal budget also sets aside funding to strengthen Canada’s vehicle and methane emissions regulations, as well as to finalize Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard. While such policies seldom make headlines, they efficiently reduce emissions year after year at a significant scale.

“A focus on ‘greening procurement’—or as it’s sometimes called, buying clean—also makes an appearance, and we look forward to the federal government taking additional steps and encouraging all levels of government to buy the cleanest products and building materials, many of which are made here in Canada.

“Canadian families, meanwhile, will benefit from interest-free loans to retrofit their homes and lower their energy bills, while funding for more EV charging stations will make getting around easier than ever. 

“Finally, we would also like to applaud the federal government for taking real action on affordable childcare. Women have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic-induced recession. Expanding access to childcare and helping moms enter or remain in the workforce will deliver enormous economic benefits and ensure this recovery is a fair one.

“After all, climate action is not so different: it’s ultimately about improving life for everyone.”

KEY FACTS

Key clean energy and climate commitments in the budget:

• A total of $17.6 billion of spending on clean energy and climate initiatives.
• $5 billion in addition to an existing $3 billion over seven years to increase funding for the Strategic Innovation Fund’s Net Zero Accelerator to help decarbonize heavy industry and support clean technologies.
• $1 billion available over five years to help draw in private sector investment and help scale up large-scale clean technology projects.
• A 50% cut in the general corporate and small business income tax rates for businesses that manufacture zero-emission technologies, including the manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles and their batteries.
• $36.8 million over three years for federal research and development to advance critical battery mineral processing and refining expertise.
• $9.6 million over three years to create a Critical Battery Minerals Centre of Excellence at Natural Resources Canada to coordinate federal policy and programs on critical minerals, and work with provincial, territorial, and other partners. The centre would also help implement the Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan.
• $778.7 million over five years with $414.1 million in future years to help homeowners complete deep home retrofits through interest-free loans worth up to $40,000.
• $67.2 million over seven years to implement and administer the Clean Fuel Standard.
• $104.6 million over five years to strengthen greenhouse gas emissions regulations for light- and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road residential equipment, as well as to establish national methane regulations for large landfills.
• $14.9 million over four years, starting in 2022-23, with $77.9 million in future years, for a Federal Clean Electricity Fund to purchase renewable energy certificates for all federal government buildings.
• The introduction of an investment tax credit for capital invested in carbon capture, utilization and storage projects with the goal of reducing emissions by at least 15 megatonnes of CO₂ annually. Projects for enhanced oil recovery are not foreseen to be eligible.
• The budget positions Canada to reduce emissions by about 36% below 2005 levels by 2030, achieving reductions beyond Canada’s current target of 30%.
• Canada is expected to announce an increased 2030 climate target during Thursday’s Earth Day Summit.

RESOURCES

Poll | Most Canadians want Canada to be ‘world leading’ or ‘among the most ambitious’ when it comes to shifting to clean energy and clean technology

Release | Federal government’s new climate plan is brave, honest, and historic

Op-ed | Bold climate targets matter as Canada gears up for U.S. summit, but real action matters more