A re-elected Liberal government will help Canadians lower their energy bills, make their homes more energy-efficient, and give them the tools to prepare for climate related disasters.
That was the message Wednesday morning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who made a policy announcement in the backyard of a home in North Delta.
“It’s expensive to adapt to a changing climate. We are going to help you replace those drafty windows or your old furnace – so you can cut your utility bills and keep our environment healthy,” said the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. “We have a decision to make. We can go back to the Harper years, when the Conservatives did nothing about climate change, or we can fight for a better future. The choice is that clear.”
Trudeau said the Liberals will make life more affordable for Canadians, cut our emissions, and protect the environment.
- We will help retrofit 1.5 million homes to help Canadians make their homes more energy efficient, and better protect them from climate-related risks;
- We will help homeowners and landlords pay for retrofits by giving them an interest-free loan of up to $40,000;
- We will help people buy newly built homes that are certified zero-emissions by giving them a Net Zero Homes Grant of up to $5,000; and
- We will invest $100 million in skills training, to ensure there are enough qualified workers to keep up with energy audits, retrofits, and net-zero home construction.
- We will also be there for Canadians when disaster strikes, by: protecting homeowners who are at high risk of flooding and don’t have adequate insurance protection, by creating a low-cost national flood insurance program;helping Canadians better understand the risks they face when they buy a home, by working with provinces and territories to complete all flood maps in Canada;developing a national action plan to assist homeowners with potential relocation for those at the highest risk of repeat flooding; andhelp Canadians whose jobs and livelihoods are affected when disaster strikes, by working with stakeholders and experts to design an E.I. Disaster Assistance Benefit.
- These measures will build on four years of climate action by our government, including: introducing over 50 measures to fight climate change and protect our environment, from banning single-use plastics to putting a price on pollution;investing to encourage new homes to be built carbon neutral;helping ensure Canadians have access to the most energy-efficient appliances to help cut energy costs and support our climate action goals; andestablishing the $2 billion Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to help communities prevent and prepare for growing climate risks.
“Andrew Scheer doesn’t have a real climate plan. He wants to make pollution free again – which would increase our emissions,” said Trudeau. “Denial is not a policy. We can go back to the Harper years, when the Conservatives did nothing about climate change – or fight for a better future. I’m for moving forward.”
