ENVIRONMENT
Ontario's vast wilderness and diverse wildlife, its clean air and water, and its wealth of natural resources are a source of pride for all Ontarians, and their protection has been a priority of the McGuinty government since 2003. Ontarians expect a clean and safe environment to live in, enjoy and explore. Improving Ontario's environment is not only essential for the health and quality of life of Ontarians, but is becoming increasingly important to Ontario's economic goals.
2009 Ontario Budget
Green Jobs
The McGuinty government is taking action to ensure Ontarians have good, well-paying jobs today and in the future. The global trend towards fighting climate change and ensuring environmental sustainability presents enormous economic opportunities. The potential for growth in sectors such as clean energy, green transportation and energy efficiency is significant. Jurisdictions that embrace the shift to a low-carbon, sustainable economy will see more robust growth, more jobs and higher wages.
This Budget includes a series of initiatives to make Ontario a champion of the green economy:
- $250 million over five years for the creation of a new Emerging Technologies Fund, which will include investments in green technology companies
- $50 million to enhance the Innovation Demonstration Fund, which helps commercialize emerging technologies with a preference towards bio-based, environmental and alternative energy technologies
- $30 million annually for purchasing emerging green Ontario technologies
- $50 million over five years to enable the research, capital and demonstration projects necessary for the development of a smart grid in Ontario
- $8 million annually, starting in 2009-10, to promote Ontario food products to the broader public sector
- $5 million for the Sustainable Prosperity Research and Policy Network at the University of Ottawa, which will help develop a new generation of market-based environmental policy approaches that promote green economic development
- $5 million over two years to develop the Green Jobs Skills Strategy that responds to labour demand in the emerging green energy sector, including electricity.
Green Energy and Energy Efficiency
By targeting both energy efficiency and sustainable energy solutions, the government is laying the foundation for long-term economic and environmental prosperity.
- If passed, the newly introduced Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, would create an estimated 50,000 jobs in the first three years, foster the growth of renewable energy sources and increase energy conservation
- The McGuinty government is investing approximately $390 million to match Ontario's share of the federal Green Infrastructure Fund to develop initiatives that assist in the implementation of the proposed Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, including expediting the growth, transmission and distribution of clean, green renewable energy across Ontario
- Through a significant retrofitting program that focuses on government buildings, schools, social housing, homes and commercial buildings, the government is reducing energy costs, carbon emissions and creating marketable expertise
- Since June 2007, the Ontario Home Energy Savings Program has helped over 125,000 homeowners obtain energy savings information about their homes and provided almost $50 million to help retrofit more than 47,000 homes. The resulting reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to removing 29,000 cars from Ontario roads
- By 2014, Ontario's electricity needs will be met without coal. Ontario's coal replacement is the single largest greenhouse gas reduction initiative in Canada
- In the spring of 2009, the government will release a study that will look at ways to speed up the introduction of electric vehicles.
Achievements Since 2003
The measures announced in the 2009 Budget are consistent with the government's history of strategic investments aimed at making Ontario Canada's greenest province. Since 2003, the government has:
- Continued to make investments in public transit and will build on the $6.2 billion it has invested across the province since 2005
- Doubled the maximum Retail Sales Tax rebate for qualifying hybrid electric vehicles from $1,000 to $2,000
- Provided $15 million in 2007 under the four-year Green Commercial Vehicle Program to reimburse up to one-third of the capital cost of eligible environmentally friendly technologies that reduce greenhouse gases and fuel consumption
- Protected about 1.8 million acres of environmentally sensitive and agricultural land in the Golden Horseshoe from urban development and sprawl under the Greenbelt Act, 2005
- Implemented a long-term plan for environmentally sustainable development while protecting at least 50 per cent of Ontario's Far North Boreal region. The government has provided the Ministry of Natural Resources with $30 million over four years to support this planning, including building capacity for Far North First Nations, providing mapping and research and engaging non-native municipalities
- Invested $24 million over three years to support Ontario industry in transforming to green chemistry and green technologies
- Allocated up to $14.4 million through the Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive, until March 31, 2011, to encourage commercial and institutional investment in qualifying solar heating equipment
- Helped nearly a dozen innovative Ontario companies and leveraged $70 million in private investment through the Innovation Demonstration Fund, which focuses on bio-based green energy and environmental technologies. This fund began accepting applications in 2006
- Reduced use of coal-fired electricity generation in Ontario by almost 40 per cent
- Almost 1,000 megawatts of new renewable electricity generation have come online
- Passed the Endangered Species Act, 2007, making Ontario a North American leader in species at risk protection and recovery, and provided $8 million in Species at Risk Stewardship funding for over 200 projects
- Passed the Safeguarding and Sustaining Ontario's Water Act, 2007, strengthening the management, protection and conservation of Ontario's water resources, including the Great Lakes
- Provided $23 million to conservation authorities to support development of source water protection plans and $7 million annually for community source water protection initiatives
- In 2008, this government committed $36 million over four years for new inspection resources and staff — 60 new inspectors to protect Ontario's air, land and water
- Committed to plant 50 million trees in Southern Ontario, with over 2.2 million trees planted to date.
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