New Fund Invests $200 Million of Cap and Trade Proceeds to Make Schools Greener, Better Places to Learn

Ontario created a new fund, specifically to invest in repairs and renewal of schools in the province. Premier Kathleen Wynne and Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education announced that Ontario will spend $1.4 billion on school renewal and repairs this year. This includes $200 million from the new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which will support retrofit projects that reduce energy use in schools. These projects will benefit students by creating a healthier and more comfortable learning environment and building a low-carbon province in which they can thrive.

As part of the Climate Change Action Plan, the province is allocating $200 million worth of cap and trade proceeds to launch the fund for schools across the province. This investment aims to increase school buildings energy-efficiency by up-grading the schools infrastructure such as high efficiency heating and cooling systems, energy efficient windows and doors, advanced controls for individual rooms to prevent over and under heating/cooling, heat recovery and LED lights are some of the projects. The higher energy efficiency will lead to reduced operating cost and these savings can be invested in school supplies and programs to improve student experiences.

This fund as well as many other investments the liberal government has introduced might be slashed if the Conservatives were to be in power after the next election in June as part of their $12 Billion deficit Brown announced.

The Liberal Government is very concerned with our children and committed to helping every child get off to a good start in life and have the opportunity to reach their potential. In addition to investing a total of $1.4 billion this year to make schools better places to learn, Ontario is investing in increasing access to affordable, quality licensed child care, making prescription medications free for everyone 24 years of age and younger through OHIP+ and transforming the Ontario Student Assistance Program to make average tuition free for more than $210,000 students and reduce the cost for many more.

In Haldimand-Norfolk we will receive the following funding:

In recent years, the province has significantly increased the amount invested annually in school repairs and renewal. Since 2013, Ontario has invested almost $10 billion to renew schools and provide students with better, safer and healthier learning environments.

Ontario is investing proceeds from the cap and trade fund into Climate Change Action Plan to help meet legislated provincial targets to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

Simcoe Composite School

Fact: Buildings, and the energy they consume, account for almost one quarter of Ontario’s total greenhouse gas pollution.