Bill C-318: An Act respecting the development of a national renewable energy strategy

Bill C-318 If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at [email protected]. First Reading LEGISinfo Bilingual view XML PDF Skip to Document Navigation Skip to Document Content ENGLISHSUMMARYSUMMARY1 Short Title1 Short Title2 Interpretation2 Interpretation3 National Renewable Energy Strategy3 National Renewable Energy Strategy6 Reports to Parliament6 Reports to Parliament Second Session, Forty-third Parliament, 69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-318 An Act respecting the development of a national renewable energy strategy FIRST READING, June 21, 2021 Mr. Davies 432131 SUMMARY This enactment requires the Minister of Natural Resources, in consultation with the provincial government representatives responsible for energy matters, to develop and implement a national strategy to provide that by December 31, 2030, 100% of electricity generated in Canada must be from renewable energy sources. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 2nd Session, 43rd Parliament, 69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-318 An Act respecting the development of a national renewable energy strategy Preamble Whereas the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been clear that averting catastrophic climate change requires global net human-caused greenhouse gas emissions to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050; Whereas jobs in the clean energy sector are projected to grow nearly four times faster than the Canadian average between 2020 and 2030, and the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product is set to increase at more than double the national average over the same period; And whereas Canada must accelerate its transition to a clean energy future to meet the federal government’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Renewable Energy Strategy Act. Interpretation Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. Indigenous governing body means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. (corps dirigeant autochtone) Minister means the Minister of Natural Resources. (ministre) renewable energy source means an energy source that can be naturally replenished or renewed within a human lifespan. (source d’énergie renouvelable) National Renewable Energy Strategy Development of national strategy 3 The Minister must, in consultation with the provincial government representatives responsible for energy matters and with Indigenous governing bodies, develop and implement a national strategy to provide that by December 31, 2030, 100% of electricity generated in Canada must be from renewable energy sources. Objectives of national strategy 4 The national strategy must include measures designed to achieve the following objectives: (a) the initiation in each calendar year of twice as many renewable energy production projects as non-renewable energy production projects; (b) an increase in investment in the research and development of renewable energy technologies; (c) cooperation between the federal government and provincial governments in the establishment of new large-scale public electric utilities; and (d) the creation of a renewable energy economy and renewable energy jobs. Incentives 5 (1) Within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister, together with the Minister of Finance, must have designed and implemented incentives to encourage the development of, and investment in, renewable energy projects related to solar, wind, tidal and biomass electricity generation and to encourage homeowners and businesses to retrofit their properties with new or more efficient renewable energy technologies to increase the proportion of electricity used by these properties that is derived from renewable energy sources. Clarification (2) The incentives described in subsection (1) apply solely to the start-up costs of new projects and not to ongoing costs. Reports to Parliament Tabling of national strategy 6 (1) Within two years after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the national strategy and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of Natural Resources within 10 days after it has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Report 7 Within three years after the report referred to in section 6 has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament and every three years after that, the Minister must, in consultation with the parties referred to in section 3, prepare a report on the effectiveness of the national strategy that sets out the Minister’s conclusions and recommendations, and cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU