Government of Canada Contributes $1.3 Million to the Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology to Advance Renewable Energy Projects
Across the country, Canadians are feeling the impacts of climate change and are taking action in their communities to tackle them. The Government of Canada is supporting projects across the country that cut pollution, help people save on energy costs and create jobs.
Today, Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Rainy River, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $1.3-million investment to the Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology to increase the college’s capacity to achieve renewable energy, a net-zero facility and curriculum goals.
Confederation College is effectively using on-campus renewable energy systems to host applied skills-based learning opportunities. Today’s investment will support this, and important initiatives such as their Sustainability Roadmap Study which focuses on energy topics including efficiency, renewables, and electrification. Their learnings will be shared with community partners including Indigenous communities, as Canada moves towards a net-zero economy.
A key element of this project is to build an equitable, culturally inclusive curriculum that includes existing and future renewable energy projects that will increase accessibility and support the construction and maintenance of renewable energy systems.
The main campus of Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology is in Thunder Bay, with seven regional campuses located across northwestern Ontario, in the communities of Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora, Greenstone, Marathon, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake.
By increasing the potential to collaborate with First Nations and northwestern communities served by the college on renewable energy projects, the project will provide regional economic benefits while advancing Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Natural Resources Canada is focused on creating opportunities to ensure Indigenous Peoples, communities, students, workers and businesses are meaningful participants in the transition to clean energy. Through investments such as this, we will continue to work toward the advancement of economic reconciliation while ensuring that Indigenous Peoples are equal partners in Canada’s net-zero future.