Canada's New Government supports clean air and energy efficiency projects in Prince Edward Island

 

OTTAWA, Apr 24, 2007 -- Canada NewsWire

 

Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird today announced $15 million in funding for Prince Edward Island as part of a trust fund set up by Canada's New Government to support provincial and territorial projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. The $1.5 billion dollar trust fund for clean air and climate change is part of the Government's recent $4.5 billion budget commitment to make real progress on important environmental issues.

"I am pleased to have been able to work with Premier Pat Binns on supporting Prince Edward Island's strategy on reducing green house gasses and other pollutants", said Minister Baird. "Together in cooperation with Canada's provinces and territories we are taking real action to tackle climate change and air pollutants. We've demonstrated that commitment in our budget announcements, and we're demonstrating it here again today. By helping to support Prince Edward Island's efforts in this regard, we can work together to find concrete and realistic solutions to Canada's environmental challenges."

"This money will help Prince Edward Island move towards fulfilling its environmental agenda," commented Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Peter MacKay. "Atlantic Canadians have a lot of great ideas for how we can reduce air emissions, and this funding will help our provinces realize those ideas, to the benefit of all Canadians."

Both the Premier of Prince Edward Island and the island's Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry echoed their support for the funding, and for the importance of the proposed projects.

"Prince Edward Island has demonstrated its commitment to being a leader in renewable energy and environmental stewardship," said Premier Binns. "We will continue to lead by example and look forward to working in co-operation with our federal partners to take action on this important issue."

"Our province is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change", added Prince Edward Island's Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry, Jamie Ballem. "This funding will allow us to address local issues in a way that makes sense for the province, while at the same time achieving overall benefits for all Canadians. It's a win-win situation for everyone".

Prince Edward Island's trust will be invested in initiatives that build upon the province's strong history of renewable energy research and development, increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Government of Prince Edward Island has indicated that it will use the funding to move forward on several provincial projects which may include:

- support for homeowners to install renewable energy technologies and make their homes more energy efficient;

- investment in renewable energy technologies and energy saving measures in government buildings;

- a program to introduce renewable energy demonstration projects in several Island schools; and

- a hydrogen fuelling station for the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village.

Canada's New Government is already delivering on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution by taking tangible steps with initiatives in the energy and transportation sectors such as ecoEnergy and ecoTransport, and by committing to implement aggressive regulations to reduce emissions in all sectors. The provincial and territorial initiatives supported by Canada's New Government's trust fund for clean air and climate change will complement those efforts.

As announced, resources for the trust will consist of $1.5 billion of new funding on a national basis. This funding is a part of the actions being taken by Canada's new Government in their plan to build a stronger, safer, better Canada. The funding will also play a part in the Government's action on the fiscal imbalance.

For more information about the Federal Government's environmental initiatives, please visit: http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca

For further information on Prince Edward Island's programs, please visit the Environment and Land section of the island's web site: http://www.gov.pe.ca

(Également offert en francais)

SOURCE: Government of Canada

SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

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