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Government of Ontario Introduces Enabling Legislation for Rural Broadband Expansion
Today, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Laurie Scott introduced enabling legislation, Bill #257 – “Building Broadband Faster Act, 2021,” aimed at better supporting the timely expansion of needed broadband infrastructure within unserved and underserved rural Ontario communities.
Minister McKenna Announces $2.75 Billion Fund to Electrify Transit Systems
Today, Minister of Infrastructure & Communities Catherine McKenna announced a $2.75 billion fund for electric bus infrastructure over the next five years. Funding will be provided through Infrastructure Canada to support the purchase of zero-emission public transit and school buses and can be accessed as early as 2021.
Federal Government Launches Review of Output-Based Pricing System
As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to review the current federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) Regulations in 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has released a paper titled Review of the Federal Output-Based Pricing System Regulations.
2021 City of Toronto Budget Update: Hold the Line
As everyone continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic, municipalities across Canada are faced with an additional challenge during this year’s budget deliberations of ensuring adequate funding is available for continued COVID-related support in addition to regular programs, services, and capital projects.
Federal Government Announces $14.9 billion For Public Transit Funding
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Catherine McKenna and Canadian Infrastructure Bank Chair Tamara Vrooman announced a new, $3 billion per-year permanent transit fund, beginning in 2026-27. In total, the announcement commits $14.9 billion in new funding for public transit projects, over the next eight years.
IESO Appoints Lesley Gallinger as President and CEO
Earlier today the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) appointed Lesley Gallinger as its new President and CEO, effective May 25, 2021. Ms. Gallinger will replace Terry Young, who as been Interim President and CEO since the departure of Peter Gregg last fall.
Reforming the Long-Term Energy Planning Framework in Ontario
Earlier today the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines formally launched a public consultation on the Environmental Registry to refocus Ontario’s Long-term energy planning framework. The intent of this consultation is to inform the Ministry’s deliberations in considering ways “to increase the effectiveness, transparency and accountability of energy decision-making in Ontario.”
Ontario Government Task Force Recommendations Include Stringent New Climate-Related Reporting Requirements
On Friday, Ontario's Ministry of Finance released the final report from its Task Force on Capital Market Reform, which recommends that the province mandate publicly-traded corporations to disclosure climate change-related financial risks in a manner that aligns with international standards.
Prime Minister Trudeau Releases Much-Anticipated Supplementary Mandate Letters
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released his much-anticipated supplementary ministerial mandate letters to the 36 Cabinet Ministers that comprise his government. These are the second round of Trudeau mandate letters since the 2019 election.
OSFI Discussion Paper: Managing Uncertainty in Climate Change: Promoting Preparedness and Resiliency to Climate-Related Risk
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) this week released a discussion paper, titled Managing Uncertainty in Climate Change: Promoting Preparedness and Resiliency to Climate-Related Risk, that signals the federal watchdog will expect more robust disclosure of climate-related financial risks by banks, insurance companies and pension funds.
