The governments of Canada and Manitoba are working together to help businesses, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations reduce pollution and access clean technology. This will help save money and energy and create jobs, while building strong, resilient communities.
Today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, was joined by the Honourable Tracy Schmidt, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for Manitoba to announce up to $10.9 million to support a first round of 32 projects that have been approved for funding under Manitoba's Merit-Based Program. The investment was made possible thanks to a $9.4 million federal investment from the Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF) and $1.5 million from the provincial government.
The Manitoba Merit-Based Program is designed to fund projects that will:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including switching from the combustion of fossil fuels to renewable energy
- Promote growth in the low-carbon economy and green job creation
- Support industry competitiveness
- Improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs
The 32 projects announced today include:
- Twenty-four projects from the agricultural sector, the majority of which still rely on propane or natural gas for irrigation, grain drying, and transfer and handling systems. According to the government of Manitoba, this investment will help these projects upgrade or make the switch to renewable energy. This will contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reductions of over 7,310 tonnes by 2030, which is equivalent to removing over 2,200 vehicles from Manitoba's roads.
- Eight other projects are divided between not-for-profit organizations, social housing, and municipal development projects focused on fuel switching and reducing energy costs.
The Governments of Canada and the Province of Manitoba have already collaborated on different initiatives designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the switch to renewable energy. The scope of projects announced today shows both Canada's and Manitoba's engagement in achieving climate goals and building a strong, green, and more prosperous economy for Manitobans.
