The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced more than $32.8 million in joint federal-provincial funding for 14 green infrastructure projects in the province.
Among these projects, the Resort Municipality of Whistler will benefit from an expansion of the Sea-to-Sky Electric Vehicle Charging Network, including the installation of 41 new electric vehicle charging stations and upgrades to the electric grid to support future demand. Thirteen of the new stations will be direct-current fast-charging stations capable of charging a battery from empty to 80% in 30-60 minutes depending on vehicle battery size.
“Our partnership with province of British Columbia, through the CleanBC Communities Fund, will enable communities to leverage the power of clean energy and successfully transition to a clean economy that works for everyone,” said Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
The investment will also help improve housing options for vulnerable seniors with upgrades to the building envelope, ventilation system, space, and water heating for 26 supported housing units in Victoria, in partnership with Pacifica Housing. The project will decarbonize the building and improve comfort in extreme weather events like heat waves and wildfires.
“All orders of government are working together across BC to ensure communities adopt green technologies that will improve residents’ quality of life, create good paying jobs, and help reach our 2050 net-zero targets,” said Patrick Weiler, MP West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country. “Through a $1.2 million federal investment for an upgraded electrical grid and 41 new EV charging stations, Whistler will continue to make progress on tackling its largest source of emissions.”
In addition, some of the funding will support the partnership between the Skidegate Band Council, the Old Massett Village Council, and the Council of Haida Nations to construct a new solar energy farm. The solar photovoltaic farm will be built and operated jointly by the partnership members to generate clean energy, which will displace fossil fuel use on Haida Gwaii’s northern isolated grid.
Other CleanBC projects announced yesterday include a hydropower station and the installation of heat recovery systems to produce renewable natural gas.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $18.5 million and the Government of British Columbia is contributing over $14.3 million in these 14 projects through the second intake of the CleanBC Communities Fund, under the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Contributions from municipal, First Nation and not-for-profit recipients total more than $10.9 million
“We’re working across all levels of governments and with Indigenous peoples to directly address the climate crisis and build a better future for people across the province through CleanBC,” said George Heyman, B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
Featured image: (From left to right): Councillor Ralph Forsyth, Bowinn Ma, Dominic LeBlanc, and MP Patrick Weiler. (CNW Group/Infrastructure Canada)
