The governments of Canada and Alberta announce funding to help people in Alberta reduce utility costs

EDMONTON, May 4, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada and Alberta are working together to take climate action and find clean solutions to help Canadians save money, reduce energy waste, create jobs, and support healthy communities.

Today, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi?on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna?joined Alberta's Minister of Seniors and Housing, Lori Sigurdson, to announce a federal investment of $9 million to help the people of Alberta who live in affordable housing be more energy-efficient.

This funding will support the province's Affordable Housing Energy Savings Program, which enables energy-efficient retrofits in government-owned-and-supported affordable-housing units to reduce carbon emissions and utility costs. This investment is provided by the Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund.

As part of its Climate Leadership Plan, Alberta is investing an additional $16 million into the Affordable Housing Energy Savings Program to improve affordable housing to help low-income families make environmentally friendly changes. The Affordable Housing Energy Savings Program is making life more affordable for people across the province and making Alberta a leader in the global fight against climate change.

The Affordable Housing Energy Savings Program will focus on retrofits, which will include exterior doors and windows; exterior wall and basement insulation; and heating, cooling, water, and lighting systems to increase the life of buildings, improve efficiency, and reduce energy costs for residents.

Today's announcement is part of the almost $150 million Alberta is receiving through the Leadership Fund, and it supports priorities identified by the Government of Alberta.

Quotes

"The environment and the economy go together. That's why the Government of Canada is working with Alberta to put practical climate solutions into action?and creating good, middle-class jobs and economic opportunities in the process. Investing in energy efficiency pays for itself by saving money, reducing carbon pollution, and making our homes and businesses more comfortable and affordable."
? Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The new Affordable Housing Energy Savings Program will lower utility costs as well as the carbon footprint for public housing. This investment is creating an environmentally and financially sustainable future for our province's affordable housing."
? Lori Sigurdson, Minister of Seniors and Housing

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund supports the implementation of Canada's clean-growth and climate action plan, the Pan-Canadian Framework, by investing in projects that reduce carbon pollution and that support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Over the next five years, funding from the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund will benefit Canadians, through initiatives to
• make homes and buildings more energy efficient and comfortable, reduce carbon pollution, and help people save money;
• help companies access technologies that reduce their emissions and grow sustainably; and,
• support the forest and agriculture sectors enhance the amount of carbon stored in forests and soils.
• The Low Carbon Economy Fund is split into two parts:
• The Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund provides $1.4 billion to support the leadership commitments from provinces and territories, outlined in Canada's clean-growth and climate action plan.
• Over $500 million will be available for the Low Carbon Economy Challenge to support additional projects that reduce carbon pollution and that promote clean growth. The Low Carbon Economy Challenge will be open to all provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. The Challenge was launched on March 14, 2018, and it is accepting applications.

Related Products

• Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund: What it means for Alberta

Associated Links

• The Low Carbon Economy Fund
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada