Energy incentive cancellation big mistake: Tony Martin

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN, MP

***************************** Energy incentive cancellation big mistake: Tony Martin

SAULT STE. MARIE - The federal Conservative government is making a huge mistake cancelling the successful retrofit program that provided incentives for Canadians to reduce their energy consumption, Sault MP Tony Martin said today.

“Like many Canadians, I was stunned by the sudden cancellation of the ecoEnergy Retrofit program, quietly suspended in the budget notes,” Martin said. “We are slowly recovering from a recession and many homeowners were receiving thousands of dollars in federal and provincial incentives. As a northern country with a cold climate, Canada should be one of the biggest investors in energy efficiency but this decision has us heading in the wrong direction.

“First, the Conservatives killed the home renovation tax credit and now this. This leaves Canadians, the trades and small businesses reeling. It triggered more local spending so stopping these programs makes no sense.”

The program offered advice on low-cost measures like weather stripping, furnace maintenance and installing programmable thermostats, all steps to reduce energy costs.

Natural Resources Canada will no longer accept applications for pre-retrofit evaluations which were the first step to enroll in the program.

Homeowners who have already started the program have until March 31, 2011 to complete upgrades and have a post-retrofit evaluation.

The payments offset a portion of the expenses made by the property owner to improve the environmental performance of their property, and are contingent on achieving a verifiable level of energy savings.

The ecoEnergy Retrofit program was launched in April 2007. 

According to departmental numbers more than 85,000 home retrofits have been completed and over $91 million has been paid to homeowners. 

This decision is at odds with the investment south of the border, where the Obama administration has announced support for huge initiatives to improve energy efficiency in new and existing buildings, including those owned by governments, institutions, and the private sector. 

The goals there are improving energy efficiency, reducing demand on resources, reducing emissions, and creating jobs in green trades and bolstering the construction industry.

New Democrats agree that investments in energy efficiency are a vital part of Canada’s climate change and energy security requirements.

“New Democrats agree that investments in energy efficiency are a vital part of Canada’s climate change and energy security requirements,” Martin said. “We will continue to fight this move, and push for the minister to restore or replace this program,”    *****************************