Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. Thank you for inviting the Green Budget Coalition to speak to you today.
The Green Budget Coalition, active since 1999, is unique in bringing together the expertise of 21 of Canada's leading environmental organizations, collectively with over one million Canadians as members, supporters and volunteers.
The Green Budget Coalition's mission is to present an analysis of the most pressing issues regarding environmental sustainability in Canada and to make a consolidated annual set of recommendations to the federal government regarding strategic fiscal and budgetary opportunities.
As the chair mentioned, I'm pleased to be joined today by three of my expert colleagues to help answer your questions: the coalition's co-chair, Theresa McClenaghan, with the Canadian Environmental Law Association based in Toronto and Paris in southwestern Ontario; the coalition's climate lead, Tom Green, with the David Suzuki Foundation in Vancouver; and Shaughn McArthur, associate director of government relations with Nature United in Madame Chatel's riding in Quebec.
Yesterday, I emailed you each the Green Budget Coalition's submission to the committee's pre-budget consultations, as well as links to this detailed document here in English and French, which is the coalition's detailed recommendations for budget 2023 with more detail.
Overall, as the world continues to grapple with major crises, including hurricane Fiona's recent impacts on Canadians on the east coast and energy shortages in Europe, the Green Budget Coalition believes it is now critical to focus more attention on the related climate and biodiversity crises in shaping a world that is equitable, carbon-neutral and nature-positive and provides secure, affordable energy for current and future generations of Canadians and people worldwide.
The coalition welcomed the federal government's multi-billion dollar investments in budget 2022 that advanced the coalition's recommendations, particularly for energy-efficient buildings, zero-emission vehicles and nature-based climate solutions; however, as we've seen, much more is needed.
The upcoming UN meetings on climate in Egypt in a couple of weeks, and then on nature in Montreal in December, are prime opportunities for the government to announce such new investments, to demonstrate global leadership and to inspire further action by our international partners.
In this context, the Green Budget Coalition has five feature recommendations for budget 2023 that will create jobs, enhance affordability by reducing energy costs and also support indigenous leadership and well-being.
First, advancing a zero-emissions electricity grid based on renewables—essential steps towards the major transformational investments required in the generation, transmission and demand side of electricity, including remote indigenous communities—will require an investment of $18 billion over five years.
Second is the renovation wave. Following on the model in the European Union, it is a plan for jobs and climate. We recommend upgrading the energy efficiency and comfort of Canada's residential building stock across the country, including low-income households and indigenous communities, and skills development for the retrofit economy.
Third, we recommend delivering on Canada's land and ocean protection commitments, integrating indigenous-led conservation, permanent funding for protection and stewardship, ecological connectivity and NGO collaboration.
Fourth is advancing sustainable agriculture, with recommendations to help producers and Canada be leaders in sustainable and innovative agriculture with a resilient and diversified food system.
Fifth is building capacity to ensure environmental justice for Canadians, establishing an office of environmental justice and committing an appropriate portion of benefits from climate and clean energy spending to disadvantaged communities following the U.S. Justice40 example.
Last, in our document, we also outline a number of complementary recommendations regarding climate mitigation and adaptation, nature conservation, environmental justice, environmental and human health, fresh water, reducing damaging subsidies and other important issues.
Implementing these recommendations together would lead to dramatic progress in advancing a healthier future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
To conclude, I would like to thank you again for inviting the Green Budget Coalition to appear here today. We look forward to your comments and questions.
Thank you.