Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada's clean-tech sector struggling

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Jul, 2020 06:33 PM
  • Canada's clean-tech sector struggling

Federal energy and environment officials were warned in late April that Canada's clean-tech sector was in danger as COVID-19 knocked the bottom out of the industry.

Three months later, a new policy tracker on energy investments made by G20 countries shows Ottawa and the provinces have put very little on the table to help clean-tech companies directly, while targeting fossil-fuel producers with more than $16 billion in aid.

Documents prepared for Natural Resources Canada deputy minister Christyne Tremblay ahead of an April 20 meeting, and obtained through an access to information request, say a recent survey showed revenues and jobs in the clean tech sector were both expected to fall more than 50 per cent this year.

With investments in research and development for clean tech disappearing rapidly, the documents say the industry warned it was facing a possible "extinction-level event."

The oil industry is also badly hurt by the pandemic, with global demand down drastically and oil prices falling to record lows in April.

This week, a new energy policy tracker released by a consortium of international environment organizations shows in Canada, of more than $16.3 billion invested by provincial and federal governments in the energy sector this year, $223 million has been earmarked for clean technology.

MORE National ARTICLES

Search continues for father of girls found dead

Search continues for father of girls found dead
The search for the father of two girls whose bodies were found Saturday in a small town southwest of Quebec City has entered its seventh day.

Search continues for father of girls found dead

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected
Statistics Canada and the country's police chiefs have agreed to help collect and report data about Indigenous and ethnocultural groups when compiling information on victims and accused people.

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%
The Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent in response to what it calls the "extremely uncertain" economic outlook from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to keep it there until the picture improves.

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut
Nunavut is reporting two presumptive cases of COVID-19 at an iron mine on the northern tip of Baffin Island. The territory is the only jurisdiction in Canada without a confirmed case of the infection.

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut

Bloc leader Blanchet denies allegations

Bloc leader Blanchet denies allegations
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois is categorically denying allegations that were made against him Tuesday night in an anonymous Facebook post.

Bloc leader Blanchet denies allegations

Vote allows overnight camping in Vancouver parks

Vote allows overnight camping in Vancouver parks
The Vancouver Park Board has passed a motion allowing overnight camping in parks around the city.

Vote allows overnight camping in Vancouver parks

PrevNext