Policy Platform 2021

Key Policy Recommendations

At a glance: Reduce risk, level the playing field, and increase Canada’s global competitiveness.

The Canada Cleantech Alliance has identified 3 high-priority policy recommendations that will contribute to making Canada a frontrunner in the race against climate change, and the best place on earth to develop clean technology. We ask that they be considered in the federal election platforms of our national political parties:

1. Reduce risk by including Crown corporations in the Greening Government Strategy.

Government procurement helps minimize the risk of investment in cleantech by reducing financial exposure of private-sector purchasers. Including Crown corporations to the Greening Government Strategy will add their significant purchasing power and create opportunities to pilot cleantech in a Canadian market.  A “buy-Canadian” stipulation will help support a wide-range of domestic cleantech companies. Through this policy, the government can encourage growth in the domestic cleantech sector.

2. Level the playing field with our competitors.

The world’s major economies have passed massive green stimulus packages that benefit their cleantech ventures and are aimed at attracting cleantech ventures to locate where the business climate is friendliest. To keep cleantech companies, jobs, and economic benefits in Canada we can:

• Implement a 30% refundable capital investment tax credit for any significant low carbon or clean technology

• Broaden the scope of the Canadian Renewable Conservation Expense (CRCE) to include all significant clean technologies

3. Position Canada as a cleantech leader and go-to exporter of low-carbon commodities and products

Increase the global competitiveness of Canada’s export industries (automotive, natural resources, agriculture, etc.) by reducing their carbon footprint through the adoption of Canadian made cleantech solutions across the value chain. This can position Canada as the go-to exporter for low-carbon commodities and products. The following three ideas will start us on that path:

• Identify and support Canadian clean technologies that are important to help manufacturers lower carbon emissions. This would enable clean technology companies grow their market share, but also help decarbonize Canada’s top exporters, helping them reduce their carbon footprint and fight climate change both at home and abroad.
• Extend the Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s mandate to administer an encompassing Loan Guarantee Program (LGP), that includes loan guarantees for cleantech projects abroad. We recommend that such a Loan Guarantee Program includes flexible, customized financing according to the borrowers’ needs. Projects should be supported by a team of experienced financial, technical, legal, risk mitigation, portfolio management, and environmental professionals.