Submission to the Pre-Budget Consultation 2024 Finance Canada
Part of CAGBC’s advocacy work involves working with and informing government on the needs and potential of the green building sector. This includes recommendations to Finance Canada in advance of budget planning. Budget 2024 should set the pace for decarbonizing of the built environment through zero-carbon buildings and retrofits. To accelerate that pace, CAGBC provided the following recommendations necessary to implement the Canada Green Buildings Strategy and prioritize the public and private sector market support needed:
1 – To supercharge Canada’s retrofit economy, the government should
Make large buildings retrofits cost-effective by requiring zero-carbon transition plans for any deep retrofit program and support adoption by developing guidance and training for the market. Transition planning will ensure the effective timing and sequencing of carbon reduction measures.
Recommended investment of $3 million over three years to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
2 – To stimulate Canada’s supply chain of low carbon construction materials,
the government should
Support small- and medium-sized Canadian companies by creating a Sustainable Construction Materials Grant program to build additional capacity for Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations. This investment will help increase the supply of sustainable materials and grow Canadian businesses at home and abroad.
Recommended investment of $25 million over three years to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
3 – To set the foundational blocks for decarbonizing Canada’s large buildings, the government should
Provide capacity for government verifications processes and enable the labelling of industrial, commercial and institutional buildings by funding a Buildings Data Strategy. The green building sector needs standardized data that is reliable and easy to access, including information on energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Recommended investment of $35 million over three years to NRCan.