In the run-up to the October 2008 Federal election, the Pembina Institute circulated a list of policy options to all parties that would put Canada on a path towards a massive scale-up of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
To address the issue of climate change the world’s industrialized countries, including Canada, must make deep reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the words of the Canada’s federal Environment Commissioner’s 2006 report to Parliament, a “massive scale-up” of efforts is needed to effectively address climate change. According to the National Round Table on Environment and Economy, this includes significant federal and provincial action on energy conservation and efficiency, and the rapid deployment of renewable sources of energy.
However, current programs (both provincial and federal) are not up to the task of supporting a massive scale-up and we lag behind other countries. Significant new programs will need to be implemented in order to make major strides forward. The following document outlines important first steps in a massive scale-up; namely, supporting key programs with immediate funding.
In parallel to these programs, the federal government should also take the following steps:
- Prepare a comprehensive National Renewable Energy Strategy that sets out a long-term vision and action plan with short- and long-term goals.
- Establish a National Task Force on Renewable Power Integration to investigate barriers and solutions to integrating large amounts of renewable energy into Canadian power grids.
- Table a Canadian Renewable Energy Act that enables the federal government to set targets for renewable energy in partnership with the provinces; support provincial renewable energy policies; and provide long term funding for supporting programs.
