MB, Winnipeg South
Centre)
Bill C-235 – Building a Green Prairie Economy Act – creates a framework for building a green economy in Prairie provinces.
Development
The Minister in charge of economic development in the Prairie provinces will need to work with the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Natural Resources to create this framework.
Consultation
The Minister will need to consult provincial representatives responsible for transportation, environment, and employment as well as municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies, and the private sector (both employers and employees) when developing the framework. There’s an exception here if any level of government already has rules in place for consultations on issues like this.
Content
The framework needs to promote growth in the Prairies by including measures on the following:
- Addressing limited or non-existent transportation options in small communities, and advancing solutions to this
- Fostering job creation and skills transfer in regions that rely on traditional energy industries to help them build a net-zero emissions economy
- Prioritizing projects that generate natural infrastructure and a clean environment, such as tree-planting initiatives, solar energy projects, forest management, and the use of all sources of energy (including nuclear)
- Supporting the development of clean energy in agriculture, forestry, transportation, manufacturing, and tourism
- Establishing programs that stimulate a green economy in a way that accounts for local circumstances and the participation of local businesses and governments
- Preparing infrastructure projects that help adapt to climate change and mitigate its adverse effects
Reports to Parliament
One year after this Act comes into effect the Minister needs to present the framework to Parliament. Two years after and then every five years a report needs to be presented on the progress and effectiveness of the framework.
Status
C-235 was given Royal Assent on December 15th, 2022.