INSIGHTS
IESO Releases the 2021 Annual Acquisition Report
Today amid broad stakeholder anticipation, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) released the Annual Acquisition Report (AAR). The purpose of this report is to identify the precise tools, targets and timing the IESO will use to meet Ontario’s electricity market needs identified in the 2020 Annual Planning Outlook (APO).
Federal Government Announces New Funding Programs Ahead of Potential Election Call
In the two weeks since the adjournment of the House of Commons and Senate for summer recess, the Federal Government has been busy announcing and rolling out a number of new funding initiatives and recapitalization of existing programs, mostly announced in the April Budget, ahead of a potential election call in August.
Parliamentary Session Recap
Parliament is now adjourned following the House of Commons’ rise on June 23rd and the Senate’s rise on June 30th, following the passage of Bill C-30, the Budget Implementation Act, 2021 and Bill C-12, an act enshrining Canada’s GHG emissions management framework.
Government of Canada Launches Request for Proposals for $1.5 Billion Clean Fuels Fund
Today, the Minister of Natural Resources, Seamus O’Regan announced the launch of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the $1.5 billion Clean Fuels Fund (CFF). The competitive RFP process will be open for 100 days, starting today and closing on September 29, 2021.
Ontario News Alert: Premier Ford’s Large-Scale Cabinet Shuffle – Renewal and Refocusing
Premier Ford has just announced a complete reorganization of his Cabinet and front benches. This Cabinet shuffle was long rumoured – in fact, it is hard to ignore the symbiotic relationship between Ontario beginning to emerge from the clutches of the pandemic and the timing and size of this particular shuffle.
Ontario Releases Regulation Finalizing its Overhaul of the Province’s Blue Box Program
On June 3, 2021, Ontario’s Environment Minister Jeff Yurek released the final and approved regulation overhauling the province’s Blue Box Program. The shift to extended producer responsibility transfers all costs and control over the province’s blue box programs from municipalities to product and packaging producers. Today, producers and municipalities split the annual cost of roughly $300 million for blue box recycling, while municipalities operate the patchwork of 243 programs.
Prime Minister Trudeau & Minister O’Regan Announce Launch of Greener Homes Program
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau along with Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan announced the launch of the Canada Greener Homes Grant program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 for green home retrofits and free EnerGuide energy assessments to homeowners. The program, first outlined in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, commits to spending $2.6 billion over 7 years.
Ontario Proposes Regulatory Amendments to Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) for Large Emitters
Today, the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) posted proposed amendments to the Ontario Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) regulations for comment. The proposed amendments are to support the transition from the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) to the EPS, which will be in effect January 1, 2022. The posting also includes proposed changes to the administration and enforcement of the program intended to clarify certain compliance and reporting requirements.
Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Releases Ontario’s Draft Forest Biomass Action Plan for Consultation
Today, Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), John Yakabuski, released Ontario’s draft Forest Biomass Action Plan (FBAP). In August 2020, the Minister launched the province’s “Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy,” which built on its draft Forest Sector Strategy released the previous year.