Nearly $41 million has been allocated to 162 Ontario schools for energy efficiency upgrades. This follows the $17 million disbursed to schools in Manitoba and Saskatchewan last fall from the federal Climate Action Incentive Fund.
That’s drawn from the carbon pricing proceeds the federal government collects and redistributes in the four provinces — Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick — that have not enacted their own carbon pricing programs, as set out in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Schools are the first focus of pledged funding for the MUSH (municipalities, universities/colleges, schools and health care facilities) sector.
“Making schools more energy efficient provides our kids with better air quality in classrooms, saves on energy costs and delivers on climate action that our kids deserve,” says Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
Funds will be distributed to elementary and secondary schools in 71 school districts throughout the province. Some of the highlighted projects include: $431,000 for roof replacement and new insulation upgrades at Ottawa’s Pius X High School; $346,000 to replace the ventilation system at École Élementaire Charles-Sauriol in Toronto; and $230,000 to replace the HVAC control system and associated equipment at St. James Catholic School in Guelph.
