Biofuels Industry Supports Federal Budget 2016 Climate Change Focus

The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) commends the Liberal government's first federal budget for its focus on climate change.

Tabled today by Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Budget 2016 commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, pricing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. The Budget provides $50 million over four years to Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to support the development of clean technologies; $82.5 million over two years to NRCan to bring clean technologies closer to commercialization; and $2.9 billion over five years to address climate change and air pollution issues, including taking action to reduce emissions from Canada's largest sources -- transportation and energy.

"CRFA members share the government's climate change priorities and have been in the business of reducing emissions for many years," said CRFA President Andrea Kent. "Today's budget shows that the government is on the right path towards a clean, green economy. We look forward to working together and ensuring renewable fuels products and technologies continue to be an important part of Canada's low-carbon future."

As part of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance's pre-budget consultations, CRFA presented the economic and environmental opportunities of a diverse energy mix -- including the expanded use of biofuels -- to the Committee on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Recommendations included increasing the already successful biodiesel mandate from 2% to 5% by the year 2020; increasing support for clean technology and the bioeconomy, be it through government programs, tax incentives or the creation of a national bioeconomy framework; and adopting measures to complement provincial carbon pricing initiatives.