We thank you for this opportunity to participate in these proceedings. We value every opportunity to speak with this committee.
Let me begin by reviewing a few technical facts about solar energy. Solar energy not only provides electricity, but it is also used for hot water heating and solar air heating, and soon, solar air cooling. It's a very scalable resource. It adapts to the home, to industrial settings, to large-scale development. It can be built quickly and can be used in almost any energy application, and for the record, Canada does have a good solar resource. We had it almost all week, except for today. It's much better than Germany, which is the poster child for the integrated alternative energy strategy.
We are here today as you review the changes and cancellation of the ecoENERGY programs. We are also pragmatic because we know that for the average Canadian there are two issues: the economy and the environment, so the good news is that every dollar invested in clean energy such as solar is an investment in Canadian manufacturing, local tradespeople, and family households. It is, after all, a local resource.
Canada currently lags behind our industrial trading partners in terms of investing in clean solar energy, and while it is true that many other countries do not share our wealth of natural resources, all of us share the same environmental future. Therefore, we in Canada have an opportunity to grab hold of our future and start to invest in clean, alternative energy technologies and innovation as the world transitions toward a carbon-free economy. In the end, it is what Canadians want: a chance to reinforce our economy and ensure a sustainable future.
CanSIA is aware of the fiscal responsibilities the Government of Canada faces, and we appreciate the efforts made to be fiscally prudent. We are aware that the Government of Canada is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon capture and storage to make our environment cleaner and more sustainable. Solar energy provides another solution to the suite of options available to the federal government to continue reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Our message today regarding investing in Canada's alternative energy future, in particular, solar energy, touches on five key principles: one, fiscal responsibility; two, job creation; three, innovation; four, greenhouse gas reductions; and five, the impact on family households and small businesses.
Phil.