See: What’s in it for Guelph? with Green Energy Futures:
Recent tariff threats coming from south of the border have put a laser focus on the economy, and have knocked fighting climate change off the table. Instead, it’s all about nation building by strengthening Canada’s economy, and ignoring the environment and Indigenous rights, in new legislation known as Bill C-5.
What’s in nation building for Guelph? Nothing but the scraps from that table, a worsening local environment, and a federal government supporting centralized fossil fuel and mining megaprojects.
In order to understand what the government is proposing with nation building, check out the basics of C-5 here.
Click to
What’s a Decentralized Megaproject?
Instead of pouring billions into a few megaprojects like pipelines, mines and highways, we can invest in decentralized megaprojects. These are small, hyper-local projects that together add up to a massive megaproject. Instead of environment damaging megaprojects in a handful of communities, decentralized megaprojects would include communities from across the country in nation building initiatives. It would also allow for more Indigenous communities to have equity stakes (ownership) in projects. Decentralized megaprojects would put people to work, save Canadians money, support federal commitments and benefit the environment. Additionally, they are practical, scalable, and ready to be deployed to improve our community now.
Examples of decentralized megaprojects include…
- Reinstating the Canada Greener Homes Loan Program to ensure continued access to energy efficiency upgrades for households.
- Transitioning Canada Greener Homes to a statutory program, one that ensures stable and predictable funding and is responsive to homeowner demand.
- Expanding conservation, efficiency renewables and storage incentives to the Industrial Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sectors
- Expansion of electrified public transit and accelerate the high speed electric rail projects
- Implementation of decentralized energy projects, such as a renewable east-west energy grid, which would allow us to produce energy, transport it and use it locally where it is needed and provide the most efficient options to communities.
- Supporting Indigenous-led conservation and Indigenous climate action.
- Fighting climate change with stronger measures to achieve Canada’s 2030 emissions reduction target in every riding.
Decentralized projects like these are critical steps forward in building a stronger country and environment.
With Bill C-5 now law, it’s critical to push back by showing our new MP that Guelph wants climate-friendly, community-based solutions- not more dirty megaprojects.
Click to
Background
- Check out the basics of C-5 here.
- Proposed amendments from Environmental Defence
- Proposed amendments to address concerns about Indigenous rights
- Ontario’s Ring of Fire
- Proposed Projects of National Interest
- Government Bill (House of Commons) C-5 – One Canadian Economy Act
