Question Period Note: Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy in Northern and Indigenous Communities

• The government is working with Indigenous and northern communities and partners to advance Indigenous Climate Leadership, support climate change adaptation, and help northern communities shift to cleaner sources of energy.

• The Emissions Reduction Plan and Budget 2022 reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination on climate action, by providing $29.6 million to advance the co-development of an Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda.

• Since 2016, CIRNAC’s climate change programs have supported more than 1125 projects across Indigenous and northern communities with investments totaling more than $327 million, in key areas such as wildfire and emergency preparedness and northern clean energy.

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• Canada recognizes the significance of clean energy infrastructure projects to the social and economic development of Canada’s North.

• In 2023, the government announced significant measures to advance clean electricity projects nationwide. These initiatives include the Clean Electricity investment tax credit, the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, and strategic financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

• Budget 2024 announced $36 million, over three years, to renew support for the Strategic Partnerships Initiatives’ Clean Energy program to promote Indigenous participation in clean growth opportunities.

• Budget 2024 also proposed to launch the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program with up to $5 billion in loan guarantees to unlock access to capital for Indigenous communities.

• The Government has committed to co-developing an Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda that ensures First Nations, Inuit, and Métis have the resources and authorities necessary to take self-determined action on climate change.

• The Government has established partnerships with over 40 Indigenous governments and regional organizations across the country to support an innovative and inclusive distinctions-based, Indigenous-led engagement and co-development process.

• The Agenda builds on work outlined in Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan, Emissions Reduction Plan, and National Adaptation Strategy, will demonstrate early progress on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan and the Inuit Nunangat Policy