Minister McKenna holds first town hall on clean growth and climate change

OTTAWA, April 29, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - On April 28, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, hosted a productive town hall with over 250 residents of Ottawa for a discussion on clean growth and climate change.

The dynamic discussion focused on ways that individuals, families, organizations, communities and governments can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change and grow our economy. The ideas put forward at the town hall will be posted on Canada.ca/climateaction, an open and transparent space for Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, to submit their ideas on how to address climate change and to read what others are saying.

Some of the most popular ideas coming out of the meeting included

• encouraging municipalities to promote green development, building retrofits, and urban planning that favours sustainable transportation
• considering the various means of putting a price on carbon
• discussing ways to encourage "green" entrepreneurs through tax credits or other incentives
• promoting wind and solar energy development, using innovative new technologies
• ensuring strong support for Canadian transportation infrastructure, including building high-speed trains to move people between cities more efficiently

All Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, are encouraged to participate in these discussions and to organize their own town hall events in communities across Canada between now and the fall. The Government of Canada is working with provinces and territories to develop our Canadian plan to address climate change and create new opportunities in clean technology. Hearing fresh ideas from all Canadians will help build solutions from the ground up.

Quote

"Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. I was inspired and encouraged by the level of engagement I saw at my town hall. The ideas I heard last night showed clearly that Canadians want to be part of the solution. I encourage Canadians from coast to coast to coast to hold town halls in their communities and provide the feedback they hear to the government over the spring and summer."
– The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• The earth's climate changes naturally, but since the industrial revolution, human activities have largely been the cause of climate change.
• Budget 2016 provides $2 billion over two years, starting in 2017–2018, to establish the Low Carbon Economy Fund, which will support provincial and territorial actions that materially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are incremental to current plans.
• Clean technology is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. It is important for Canada to take advantage of global opportunities associated with clean technologies to grow and diversify our economies, access markets, and create jobs.

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Image with caption: "On April 28, 2016, Minister Catherine McKenna invited citizens to her first Town Hall on clean growth and climate change at the Glebe Community Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. (CNW Group/Environment and Climate Change Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160429_C1832_PHOTO_EN_678969.jpg

Caitlin Workman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9436; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338