[All] Fw: Funding for the future, not the past

Wed Mar 4 20:06:31 EST 2015

Hi folks
Got this response from Elizabeth May today.
Lulu
    ----- Forwarded Message -----
  From: "Elizabeth.May at parl.gc.ca" <Elizabeth.May at parl.gc.ca>
 To: butterflybluelu at rogers.com 
 Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 2:12 PM
 Subject: RE: Funding for the future, not the past

Thank you for copying me in your email to the Prime Minister about the need to stop subsidizing fossil fuels and start investing in a clean energy economy.    Billions of dollars are currently being directed towards the expansion of the Alberta oil sands, pipelines for diluted raw bitumen, and other infrastructure projects that will cement Canada’s addiction to fossil fuels. Between 1996 and 2002, subsidies to fossil fuel industries totaled $8.3 billion. Shamefully, during this period only $3.7 billion was dedicated towards achieving Canada’s commitments to the now abandoned Kyoto Protocol. Industries tied to the Alberta oil sands continue to receive over $1.3 billion annually while radical cuts are being made in environmental science, environmental assessment, health care, support to post-secondary education, and veterans care. Clearly, this allocation of resources is not in line with values held by Canadians across the country.    Along with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency, the Green Party of Canada supports removing all subsidies to oil, coal, gas andcoalbed methane industries in Canada. The cost of carbon must not be artificially misled through subsidies. The true cost of carbon pollution should be internalized through carbon prices. We should be pressing for energy conservation, demand-side management and green renewable energy.    The clean technology sector is estimated to be worth $1 trillion globally. Canada has seized just 1 percent of the sector’s current value. Still, that relatively small piece of the pie is responsible for 52,600 Canadian jobs in 700 clean-tech companies. The sector was worth over $10 billion last year, and that was a jump of 18 per cent over the previous year. Sustainable development projects are a huge economic generator and job creator in Canada. The clean-tech sector is making gains in improving the energy efficiency of the mining sector, reducing waste water in the oil sands, cutting deeply into the price differential between renewable and coal to the point that some new wind and solar out-performs coal in terms of price.     The federal government needs to continue its support of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). Founded in 2001, SDTC has successfully completed 19 rounds of funding approvals. Over $500 million has been allocated to 228 projects. That level of investment has resulted in a highly successful track record in leveraging funds from other project partners. The ratio is 2.4:1, with $1.4 billion leveraged from $560 million. In 2013, the government committed to allocating $325 million to SDTC over eight years. With significantly increased funding, we could leverage even greater benefits.    Canada’s economy needs greater innovation. And our commitment to reduce greenhouse gases needs a burgeoning clean-tech sector. A healthy environment and a strong economy are mutually supportive. Thank you again for your letter and I hope you continue to stand up for the issues that matter to you.    Sincerely,    Elizabeth May, O.C, M.P. Saanich-Gulf Islands Leader of the Green Party of Canada

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