Today is ENERGY STAR Day, and across the country Canadians are doing their part in the fight against climate change - including by making their homes greener and more energy-efficient. Energy efficiency measures alone can account for one-third of the action needed to meet global climate targets and reach net zero by 2050 - all while helping to reduce home energy costs. That's why the Government of Canada is supporting Canadians through the Greener Homes Grant and supporting the employment of energy advisors in communities across Canada.
Today, Michael V. McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced an investment of $682,829 to Gonezu Energy Inc. to support the training and deployment of Indigenous energy advisors in remote communities across the Northwest Territories.
Gonezu Energy Inc. will create and deliver a training program for new energy advisors. As part of this initiative, it will provide candidates and new advisors with practical, hands-on training and mentorship opportunities. Gonezu Energy Inc. will collaborate with educational and service organizations in program development and implementation. This will result in the deployment of up to a dozen new energy advisors across the Northwest Territories while supporting Indigenous communities to increase their capacity for delivering energy efficiency improvements.
Energy advisors from coast to coast to coast are helping homeowners to improve energy efficiency through pre-retrofit and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations. The Canada Green Buildings Strategy as well as programs like the Greener Homes Initiative will create sustainable jobs while moving Canada toward a resilient, net-zero emissions buildings sector by 2050.
In August, 2022, Minister Wilkinson announced public consultations for the Canada Green Buildings Strategy, whose main objective is to create a net-zero emissions buildings sector by 2050. The Canada Green Buildings Council estimates that Canada's green buildings industry could support approximately 1.5 million direct jobs by 2030, up from 462,000 today.
With this project, Gonezu Energy Inc. contributes in its own way to the Canada Green Buildings Strategy objectives for climate resilient buildings. The Canada Green Buildings Strategy will mobilize national action to transform markets and reduce costs to meet this goal.
