Vancouver, British Columbia - Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, today announced that Canada’s New Government intends to provide British Columbia with $199.3 million, as part of a new Canada ecoTrust to support provincial projects that will result in real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.

“Canada’s New Government is investing to protect Canadians from the consequences of climate change, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Prime Minister. “Today’s announcement recognizes British Columbia’s ambitious plans in this area, and provides support for measurable progress that benefits all Canadians.”

“British Columbians have told us it is time to address the very real issue of climate change, and British Columbia has developed targets and a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Premier Campbell. “We welcome the federal government’s commitment to work with us on this initiative.” 

British Columbia’s funding under the Canada ecoTrust is intended to support projects consistent with British Columbia’s plan to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent from current levels by 2020, roughly 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide or equivalent below current levels. The government of British Columbia has indicated that it will use the Canada ecoTrust funding to move forward on several provincial projects, which may include:

	Extracting energy from sawmill scrap and wood infested with pine beetles
	Providing clean electricity to remote rural areas now fuelled by dirty diesel, such as electrification of Highway 37
	Support for the development of a “hydrogen highway” a network of hydrogen fuelling stations for fuel celled buses and vehicles; and
	Support for new geothermal and bio-energy projects, including the capture of bio-gas from landfill sites