How energy efficiency fits into pre-budget talks
The economy and climate change are top of mind in Ottawa, and so should EE
Since the October election things appear to be changing significantly in Ottawa.
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| The new government wants solutions that will combat climate change and stimulate economic activity. |
Given the COP21 meetings in November and December, plus the regular pressures of the annual budget in March, it seems that solution-based proposals related to climate change that will also stimulate economic activity
anywhere in Canada will be a focus in 2016. In addition, each minister does have climate change in their mandate letters -- including the Minister of
National Revenue and the Minister of Finance. Therefore the CEEA mantra in all exchanges with government is that energy efficiency is a key to solving climate change challenges.
CEEA's energy efficiency tax ask gains attention in OttawaThere are two things that also need to be considered at this point: there is really no more new money, although this government seems prepared to run a
deficit for a period of time, the size of that deficit will be the issue; and the emphasis on inter-departmental cooperation is positive (i.e. NRCan and
Environment and Climate Change will be working together), but setting up new, effective inter-departmental points of contact will take time.
As the pre-budget departmental activity began in earnest in early January, CEEA received several requests for more information on our tax ask related to
tax deductibility for building retrofits and on other issues related to low carbon infrastructure proposals. In terms of our tax proposal, CEEA is ....
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McDonald will be a moderator again at the Alliance to Save Energy's annual conference in Washington in May 11-12. She'll be joined by executives from the World Bank, the World Resources Institute and more.