Ottawa—Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute, made the following statement in response to the Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement:
“New federal funding for expanding British Columbia’s clean power grid, announced today as part of the Canada-B.C. agreement, will help create a more flexible, reliable supply of electricity, while powering industrial growth and advancing Canada’s clean electricity advantage. The $3.9 billion federal commitment to support the North Coast Transmission Line will send more affordable, clean electricity to B.C.’s northwest, while laying the foundation for a clean-energy corridor with the Yukon.
“As the Canadian Climate Institute’s recent research report underscores, the federal government has a critical role to play in supporting the build-out of the electricity grid, while also co-operating with and respecting the jurisdiction of provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities. Our research shows that proactive investment in transmission can make grids more flexible, help investment in both new demand and supply while keeping rates competitive.
“New federal investment in the Red Chris Mine expansion is a welcome signal that the government is committed to securing Canada’s place in the race for the critical minerals. As global demand surges, securing these key ingredients will support Canada—and the world’s—appetite for a key ingredient in the global energy transition.
That said, our research finds that public dollars should be used cautiously to catalyze private investment. We look forward to learning more about how federal investment will reduce emissions at the mine by 70 per cent, and how these critical mineral projects will be advanced in partnership with and in respect for Indigenous rights.
“Finally, while we await more details on the agreement to establish a new National Carbon Credit Framework, it is promising to see provincial-federal co-ordination on this important initiative.”
RESOURCES
- Report | Power Play: How to supercharge Canada’s clean electricity advantage
- Report | Critical Path: Securing Canada’s place in the global critical minerals race
- Scoping Paper | Empowering Indigenous Nations in the energy transition: Why strengthening local capacity is the first step to Canada’s future in critical minerals
CONTACT
Jaela Bernstien (Eastern Time)
Senior Communications Specialist
Canadian Climate Institute
(226) 212-9883
About the Canadian Climate Institute
The Canadian Climate Institute is Canada’s leading climate change policy research organization. The Institute produces rigorous analysis, economic modelling, and in-depth research focused on incentivizing clean economic growth and low-carbon competitiveness, reducing emissions and accelerating Canada’s net zero energy transition, and making our economy and infrastructure more resilient to a warming climate.
