WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – In announcing the move, the minister said the federal government in Ottawa would use the Canada Infrastructure Bank to finance projects in clean-energy and “modern electricity” systems across the country.
"Taking traditional coal power out of our energy mix and replacing it with cleaner technologies will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of Canadians, and benefit generations for years to come,” McKenna was quoted as saying in a press release.
In October, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed a tax on carbon-based pollution, to begin in 2018 at $10 per metric ton with gradual increases each year thereafter.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are the only Canadian provinces that still burn coal for electricity. Under the plan McKenna announced Monday, the four will have the option of phasing out coal entirely, to be replaced by with lower-emission sources, or using technologies such as carbon capture and storage.