Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise to address the House on the motion put forward by the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre. I want to thank the hon. member for bringing this matter before the House and commend him for his interest in energy efficiency.
This is a very important issue for all Canadians, for our economy, for our environment and indeed for our quality of life here in Canada. It deserves the careful attention of this House.
In Canada and indeed around the world there is a growing awareness that we need to use energy more efficiently. The combustion, the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas produce greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change and to other environmental problems. Unless action is taken now, future generations will be left with an unmanageable environmental and economic burden.
I am pleased to say that Canada is a recognized world leader in energy efficiency. Between 1990 and 1996, a period during which our economy and population grew significantly, efficiency gains by Canadians resulted in annual energy cost savings that reached $4 billion for the year 1996. Secondary energy use was 3.2% lower than it would have been without improvements in energy intensity. Of course that means carbon dioxide emissions were also lower than would otherwise have been the case.
In his motion the hon. member calls for the government to invest in a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy that will create jobs, lead to the development and export of innovative technologies and demonstrate federal leadership. I am here to inform the House that such a strategy is already in place and is having a clear and positive impact on Canada's economy and on the environment.
The Minister of Natural Resources is a champion of energy efficiency in the government and across the Canadian economy. He has demonstrated this most recently by establishing a dynamic new organization, the office of energy efficiency, which is mandated to strengthen his department's leadership efforts in this particular area. This new organization is an important part of the government's initial response to meeting the greenhouse gas commitments made at Kyoto last December.
The office of energy efficiency is now delivering 18 programs designed to move the market toward increased energy efficiency, including three new programs launched this past April with a funding commitment of $48 million over three years.
Some of these programs provide Canadian consumers and industries with the information they need to become more energy efficient. Others regulate minimum energy performance standards for certain types of energy-using equipment or show leadership through action.
The office of energy efficiency also delivers a financial incentive program to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings.
But market transformation, the changing of attitudes and the removal of market barriers is only one side of the coin. It is also critical that Canada develop technologies, processes and systems that will enable us to use less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining our economic competitiveness in a changing world. Toward this end the energy technology branch of Natural Resources Canada delivers a wide range of programs to support the research, development and application of innovative energy efficiency technologies and processes in all sectors of the economy.
Every project undertaken by the branch is done in partnership with others in industry or the academic community so that taxpayers' dollars are being used to foster investments in energy efficiency. This is an excellent example of how federal spending in strategic areas can also provide value added benefits to society.
The impact of these NRCan programs has been very positive. While the debate has been mixed in the House among those who disagree with the fact that we should be spending any time or energy on energy efficiency versus those who would suggest that we should spend more, Natural Resources Canada is providing a healthy balance in providing market forces and market driven activities which will lead to successful, innovative programs and results.
The hon. member for Winnipeg Centre is quite correct to make the link between energy efficiency and job creation. Every $1 million invested in energy efficiency projects generates 20 years of employment and millions are being invested each year.