04/30/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2021 15:37
Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, met with some of Alberta's foremost business leaders, investors, innovators and policy makers to discuss the clean tech investments announced in Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience.
April 30, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta
Budget 2021 is the Government of Canada's plan to finish the fight against COVID-19 and ensure a robust economic recovery that is inclusive of all Canadians.
Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, met with some of Alberta's foremost business leaders, investors, innovators and policy‑makers to discuss the clean tech investments announced in Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience.
The COVID-19 recession is the steepest and fastest economic contraction since the Great Depression. It has disproportionately affected low-wage workers, young people, women and racialized Canadians. Budget 2021 is a historic investment to address the specific impacts of the COVID-19 recession, put people first, create jobs, grow the middle class, set businesses on a track for long-term growth and ensure that Canada's future will be healthier, more equitable, greener and more prosperous.
Budget 2021 demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to making investments in clean technology that lay the groundwork for a stronger, greener and more sustainable economy that creates opportunities for all Canadians. Clean tech continues to offer significant benefits to Canadians-from reduced electricity costs to clean air to more than 211,000 well-paying jobs-and helps reduce our environmental impacts and helps us meet our climate change goals. Building on recent investments in climate action and clean technology, Budget 2021 proposes to provide $17.6 billion toward a green recovery that creates middle-class jobs, builds a clean economy and protects against climate change.
Canada entered the pandemic in a strong fiscal position. This allowed the government to take quick and decisive action, supporting people and businesses, and put it in the position to make historic investments in the recovery.
'Through Budget 2021, we are investing an unprecedented $17.6 billion in clean technology to meet our climate goals and protect our planet for future generations, all while driving economic prosperity and creating well-paying jobs across Canada. These bold investments reflect our commitment to helping companies and innovators succeed in their pursuit of clean-growth solutions, thereby putting Canada on the map as a global leader in clean technology and climate action.'
- The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
To help strengthen Canada's clean industrial advantage, Budget 2021 proposes significant investments through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, including:
Budget 2021 also proposes to provide Natural Resources Canada with:
In addition, Budget 2021 proposes to provide $56.1 million over five years to Measurement Canada to develop and implement, in coordination with international partners, a set of codes and standards for retail Zero Emission Vehicle charging and fueling stations. This would include accreditation and inspection frameworks needed to ensure the standards are met throughout Canada's vast network of charging and refueling stations. Budget 2021 also proposes to provide $67.4 million to Measurement Canada to ensure that commercial transactions of low-carbon fuels are measured accurately, just as they are for conventional fuels.
These new investments will be a cornerstone of the government's plan to rebuild the economy, help more than 200,000 Canadians make their homes greener, and invest in world-leading technologies that make industry cleaner and reduce pollution.
To help accelerate investment in clean energy technology and make Canada one of the best places in the world for clean tech manufacturing and investment, Budget 2021 also proposes new tax instruments that would:
The government announced the largest-ever investment in Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) in December 2020 as part of the strengthened climate plan. SDTC has made significant recent investments in next-generation clean technologies in Alberta to support early commercialization efforts, such as:
Clean technologies contributed more than $28.8 billion to the Canadian economy in 2019, including the export of approximately $7.05 billion worth of clean technology goods and services.
Women occupied 41% of all jobs in the clean tech sector. On average, women and Indigenous peoples in clean tech were compensated better than in the general workforce. Moreover, Indigenous peoples are better represented in clean tech compared to the economy-wide average.
John Power
Acting Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
[email protected]
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
[email protected]
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