Prime Minister Harper announces new ecoTrust Canada

Good morning,

It's a great honour and a special pleasure to be back in Sherbrooke, in the Eastern Townships.
I'm especially pleased to be back again with Premier Charest, in his riding.

Also with us:

Federal Environment Minister John Baird,

His Quebec counterpart Claude Béchard, and

Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister, Lawrence Cannon.

Since the election, our government has been working to promote a new federalism – the federalism of openness.

Since we were elected, our new government has practised a federalism of openness, based on respect for the jurisdictions of each level of government and for provincial autonomy.

We are also committed to restoring the fiscal balance within the Canadian federation.

And after a year in power, Canadians and Quebecers know that we keep our word.

Federalism of openness is not an abstraction.

Federalism of openness represents what we can achieve when we act together real results.

Mr Charest and I have seen each other often over the past year.

Our meetings have always been friendly and, above all, productive.

We often share the same diagnosis.

And we can reach agreement on solutions.

That's why Quebec now has its voice at UNESCO.

That's why the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of Quebec City will be an unforgettable success.

That's why, throughout Quebec, bridges and highways have been repaired, water systems upgraded, and airports expanded.

We want to work together with Quebecers, so that aspirations become reality.

One of those legitimate aspirations is environmental protection, and especially air quality and climate change.

All Canadians, not just Quebecers, are concerned about climate change and poor air quality. So we must act  from coast to coast.

Quebecers and all Canadians don't want more talk or awareness campaigns.

They understand that this is a huge, long-term challenge.

They want action real action.

I understand that well, and so does Premier Charest.

That's why I am pleased to be announcing the Canada ecoTrust Fund today. The Fund will be used to co-fund major projects with the provinces to promote clean energy, and to combat climate change, air pollution and greenhouse gases.

The Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change, that I am announcing today, will be designed to co-fund with the provinces technology development, energy efficiency, and other projects that will provide real results on the reduction of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Because we are committed to implement aggressive regulations to control and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions across industrial sectors, the provincial initiatives supported by the Canada ecoTrust will complement our efforts.

The resources for the Canada ecoTrust initiative will consist of 1.5 billion dollars of new funding on a national basis, including some $350 million for the Government of Quebec. This funding will be contained in our upcoming budget and is a part of the actions to be taken on the fiscal imbalance. This new funding will be available as soon as Parliament approves that budget.

ecoTrust will also be used to fund similar projects in all other provinces and territories, and funding will be allocated fairly

I say similar, not identical. Each province has its own energy profile and its own priorities.

Cutting pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions has to be mandatory across the country, and for all industries.

But the solutions have to customized.

That's why it's essential to work hand-in-hand with the provinces.

Here in Quebec, solutions can include a pilot plant for production of cellulosic ethanol, the promotion of geothermal heat pumps in the residential sector and innovation in the sequestration of greenhouse gases.

Today's announcement recognizes Quebec's leadership in this area, and provides support for measurable progress that will benefit all Canadians.

Real results, real, measurable reductions, are what Quebecers and all Canadians want.

And that's exactly what we're going to deliver

Thank you.