Minister’s Climate Change Action Plan progress report 2017

Overview of progress

Social housing buildings

We’re investing in improvements for social housing buildings across the province to help tenants save money on energy costs while improving comfort and reducing pollution.

Progress

• Large Social Housing Buildings: Retrofits in ~ 17,000 units
• Equivalent to taking 3,200 cars off the roads for a year

Homes

We are investing in existing home energy audit and renovation programs to help homeowners reduce energy bills while cutting greenhouse gas pollution.

Progress

• 14,000 renovations and energy audits
• Equivalent to taking ~ 17,500 cars off the roads permanently

Green Ontario Fund

Through programs and rebates, the Green Ontario Fund helps people and businesses reduce energy use but help grow savings and make homes more comfortable.

Progress

• $1,000 in rebates for homeowners
• Installing 140,000 no-cost smart themostats
• Over 850 approved contractors and growing

Schools, hospitals and municipalities

We are helping hospitals, schools, local governments, colleges and universities lower their energy costs and improve their buildings, so they can put the money they save into better public services for everyone.

Progress

• 180 projects at 98 hospitals

Cleantech economy

By investing in cleantech innovation, we are creating high-quality jobs, growing new sectors, securing existing jobs and factories, and telling the world Ontario is open for business.

Progress

• $377.5 million committed to new research, commercialization and scale-up programming since 2013
• A North American leader in developing, using and manufacturing clean energy

Low-carbon transportation

We’re putting more electric vehicles on our roads and creating a network of public charging stations in downtowns, along highways, and at workplaces across Ontario.

Progress

• Incentives of up to $14,000 for eligible electric vehicles
• More than 13,000 electric vehicle chargers across the province
• Nearly 7,500 electric vehicles sold in 2017

Read the overview in a brochure format.

Read the brochure

Full report

Read our Minister’s Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report 2017 below.

Message from Premier Wynne

In our economy, our lives and our climate – change is here. And Ontario is meeting it head on. With our Climate Change Action Plan, we’re leading the transformation to low-carbon prosperity, coming up with creative and effective solutions to one of the most pressing challenges we’ve ever faced. We are building a province in which greenhouse gas reduction goes hand-in-hand with a growing and inclusive economy.

We are the change the world needs.

Message from Minister Ballard

Like you, I know how beautiful Ontario’s environment and communities are. They are worth protecting. This is why we all have a role to play in fighting climate change. The Climate Change Action Plan is already giving people and businesses more ways to cut greenhouse gas pollution while saving money on energy costs. Whether you live in Mississauga, Nepean, Timmins or Fort Erie, we are making it easier for you to protect the environment and our way of life for generations to come.

Executive Summary

In November 2015, Ontario released its Climate Change Strategy (the Strategy) which set out the government’s vision to 2050 and outlined the path to a prosperous, climate resilient, low-carbon society where greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is part of our growth, efficiency and productivity. The Strategy was followed by the June 2016 release of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) which lays out the first specific commitments Ontario is making to reduce GHG emissions in Ontario.

The initiatives committed to under the CCAP will help Ontario achieve the short- and long-term emissions reduction targets established under the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016 (CCMLEA). A cap and trade program is the market mechanism that Ontario has chosen to support the CCAP and guarantee that Ontario achieves its carbon reduction targets.

A cap and trade program is the most cost-effective way to reduce GHG emissions. It limits the amount of emissions that can come from the economy (the “cap”), and then allows those covered by the cap to trade among themselves (the “trade”) in a flexible and cost-effective way, thereby creating a price on carbon pollution.

Our Climate Change Action Plan is designed to drive short- and long-term emission reductions across our economy. At the same time, a particular focus has been placed on where the province’s emissions are largest: in buildings, transportation, and industry. Investing in solutions to drive emissions reduction in those sectors is what will help us to “bend the curve” on our emissions and put us on the path to achieving our emission reduction targets.

Our Plan, in conjunction with the cap and trade program, is designed to support the reduction of GHGs and support and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. The cap and trade program gives polluters an incentive to cut GHGs and creates demand for innovative low carbon solutions which help businesses reduce their emissions and rewards low carbon innovation. Enabled and supported by the cap and trade program, CCAP investments are oriented towards further driving the demand for low carbon solutions throughout the economy, and promoting even greater innovation in low carbon solutions.

Under the CCMLEA, there are three legislated reports:

1. Minister’s Progress Report

   • Provides a description of CCAP initiatives, progress to date, and outcomes

2. Minister’s Evaluation Report

   • Reports on the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change’s evaluation of initiatives seeking funding from the proceeds of the cap and trade program
   • Only those initiatives with a completed Minister’s evaluation may be considered by Treasury Board  to be funded from the proceeds of cap and trade

3. Annual Report (GGRA)

   • Reports on the amounts credited and charged to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account (GGRA)
   • Published annually with Public Accounts

This report contains the information required for the Minister’s Progress Report and the Minister’s Evaluation Report. The Annual Report outlines the amounts credited and charged to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account (GGRA); this report will be released annually at the same time as the release of Public Accounts, starting with the release of the 2018-19 Public Accounts.

The Minister’s Progress Report provides a description and update on progress and outcomes for CCAP initiatives which have authorized funding commitments as of December 31, 2017. The Progress Report details progress on a total of 63 initiatives, which range from our Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF), which is helping researchers, entrepreneurs and companies create and commercialize new, globally competitive, low-carbon technologies, to the Green Ontario Fund (GreenON), which helps consumers and businesses identify low-carbon technologies to manage energy costs and reduce GHG emissions, and offers support in making those options affordable.

Each initiative listed in the Minister’s Progress Report has been reviewed and evaluated by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. The CCMLEA requires that the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to undertake a review and provide an evaluation of initiatives seeking GGRA funding to Treasury Board for consideration prior to amounts being funded from the GGRA.

The Appendix provides an account of Ontario’s historical GHG emissions and forecasts, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2017 National Inventory Report.

This report shows the significant steps our province has taken towards implementing our Climate Change Action Plan and the meaningful progress we have made in reducing emissions and facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Section 1: Background

The Ontario Cap and Trade Program and Climate Change Action Plan

Creating a Prosperous, Low-carbon Province

In November 2015, Ontario released its Climate Change Strategy (the Strategy), which sets out the government’s vision to 2050 and outlines the path to a prosperous, climate resilient, low-carbon society where greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is part of our growth, efficiency and productivity.

Climate change refers to the broad range of changes that are happening to our planet as a result of the rise in average global temperature since the late 19^th century. Scientists believe that these temperature changes are being caused by increased concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are a group of compounds that are able to trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth’s surface warmer than it would be if they were not present. Since GHGs are largely caused by burning fossil fuels to produce energy, scientists have concluded that human activity is largely responsible for recently observed changes to our climate.

Our GHG Reduction Targets

The Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), which was released on June 8, 2016, will implement Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy. The CCAP is a five-year plan that will help Ontario fight climate change over the long term. It represents the foundation upon which Ontario will establish and build the policies and programs that will be put in place over the next five years to help Ontario achieve our short- and long-term emissions reduction targets, and continue the shift towards a low-carbon economy.

Our CCAP also recognizes the enormous economic opportunity that fighting climate change offers our province, and aims to put in place policies that will reduce carbon leakage and support competitiveness.

The cap and trade program is the market mechanism that Ontario has chosen to support the CCAP and guarantee that Ontario’s emissions reduction targets are met.

These 2020, 2030 and 2050 targets were established in the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016 (CCMLEA).

Ontario’s targets are:

• 15% below 1990 levels by 2020
• 37% below 1990 levels by 2030
• 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

Overview of Ontario’s Carbon Market

Ontario linked its cap and trade program with the programs of Quebec and California, effective January 1, 2018. Linking makes us part of the largest carbon market in North America.

A cap and trade program is the most cost-effective way to reduce GHG emissions. It limits the amount of emissions that can come from the economy (the “cap”), and then allows those covered by the cap to trade among themselves (the “trade”) in a flexible and cost-effective way, thereby creating a price on carbon pollution.

Cap and trade fights climate change by lowering the GHG limit over time and gives polluters an incentive to cut emissions, since they must pay for their carbon pollution. It enables companies to find new ways to reduce their carbon footprints, such as investing in new clean technologies.

All revenues brought in through Ontario’s carbon market must, by law, be spent on initiatives that are reasonably likely to reduce, or support the reduction of, carbon pollution.

Overview of the CCAP

The CCAP lays out the first specific commitments Ontario is making to reduce GHG emissions in Ontario.

It will help Ontario take steps to help consumers, businesses and workers smoothly transition to a low-carbon economy. It will help households and First Nation and Métis communities use less energy, and save money, by investing in initiatives that reduce GHG pollution, such as home energy retrofits, electric vehicle incentives, transit, and social housing retrofits. The CCAP will support Ontario businesses by spurring innovation and rewarding efficiency, making them more competitive. It will also create conditions for new sectors to emerge and new businesses to thrive.

As Ontario transitions to a low-carbon economy, the CCAP will also create new jobs. We will build on our existing workforce in areas from clean-tech to engineering, supplying our economy with skilled workers such as tradespeople, architects and inspectors who are able to design, install and operate low-carbon-building technologies.

In addition, the CCAP describes how the province will invest the proceeds from cap and trade to help businesses and households lower emissions and reduce their energy costs. Key action areas include:

• Establishing an entity to help homeowners and businesses access and finance energy-efficient technologies
• Increasing the availability of zero-emission vehicles, deploying cleaner trucks and alternative fuels, improving transit and our cycling infrastructure
• Providing better information about building energy use and updating the building code to increase energy efficiency over time
• Providing incentives to homeowners and businesses to install or retrofit clean-energy systems like solar, battery storage, advanced insulation and heat pumps
• Helping to protect and support low-income households, vulnerable communities and many renters from the cost impacts of carbon pricing
• Helping business and industry make investments that increase their use of low-carbon technologies
• Working in partnership with First Nation and Métis communities to address climate change
• Ensuring the efficiency and sustainability of natural, agricultural and forested lands to enhance carbon removal and storage
• Working with Ontario’s waste sector to leverage different practices and technologies to capture GHG emissions
• Making government operations carbon neutral by 2018.

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), along with partner ministries, is currently working on implementing the CCAP. We are also working with the public, First Nation and Métis communities, industries, and municipalities to implement our CCAP in a way that’s efficient, effective and good for our planet and our economy.

To kick start climate actions, Ontario committed an initial investment to the Green Investment Fund (GIF) to fight climate change, strengthen the economy, create jobs and reduce GHG emissions. More information about the initiatives supported through the GIF can be found in section 3.2 – Green Investment Fund.

The CCMLEA requires that Ontario review the CCAP every five years.

How Cap and Trade and CCAP Work Together

Through cap and trade we have joined the biggest carbon market in North America.

The CCMLEA ensures that the province is accountable for responsibly and transparently using proceeds from the cap and trade program to achieve or support GHG reductions.

The Virtous Cycle
How Cap & Trade and the Climate Change Action Plan Work Together

On May 18, 2016, the CCMLEA (Bill 172) was enacted and established a long-term framework for climate action, setting out the framework for the cap and trade program, and ensuring accountability and transparency. Specifically, it:

• Establishes GHG emissions targets in a statute for 2020, 2030 and 2050
• Embeds government action and accountability in a statute to ensure participants and the public are fully informed through the development of an action plan.

The CCMLEA also prescribes content that must be included in each CCAP, including:

• A timetable for implementing each action
• Potential reduction in GHGs resulting from each action
• Assessment of the cost per tonne of the potential reduction in GHGs
• The estimated amount of funding that may be considered if an action could be funded, in whole or in part, from cap and trade program proceeds.

On May 19, 2016, two regulations that form the backbone of the cap and trade program became law – the Cap and Trade Program Regulation (O. Reg. 144/16) and the Quantification, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulation (O. Reg. 143/16). For more information, visit the e-Laws webpages about O. Reg. 144/16 and O. Reg. 143/16.

Ontario’s cap and trade program regulation took effect in July 2016 with the first compliance period starting on January 1, 2017. This compliance period extends to the end of 2020, after which Ontario emitters must submit allowances and credits equal to their emissions over the preceding four-year period.

Under the CCMLEA, proceeds from Ontario’s cap and trade program are recorded in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account (GGRA). Every dollar in the account must be invested in initiatives that are reasonably likely to reduce, or support the reduction of, GHGs.

In 2017, Ontario successfully held four standalone cap and trade auctions (see Auction Schedule and Proceeds). On January 1, 2018, Ontario’s cap and trade program linked with Quebec and California’s programs. Ontario held its first joint auction with Quebec and California on February 21, 2018.

Ontario’s Offset Credits Regulation (O. Reg. 539/17) took effect on January 1, 2018 and adopted its first protocol for quantifying GHG reductions from landfills. Offset credits create financial incentives for companies, people, and organizations to implement projects, outside of the capped sector, to fight climate change. At the same time, offset credits give companies or facilities covered by the cap and trade program lower-cost options and flexibility in how they meet their compliance obligation. For more information about O. Reg. 539/17, visit the e-Laws website.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account (GGRA) was established to demonstrate progress on the government’s commitment to spend, over time, at least as much on initiatives that reduce or support the reduction of GHGs as it has accumulated from the proceeds of the cap and trade program. It also supports effective reporting and recording of financial activities as they relate to the programs and initiatives in the CCAP.

The annual level of activity in the GGRA will be presented in supplementary information in Volume 1 of the Public Accounts. A report providing further detail on proceeds credited to the GGRA and funding allocated from it will be released annually in the Fall in conjunction with the release of Public Accounts.

Auction Schedule and Proceeds

As outlined in the 2017 Ontario Budget, the province expected to generate $1.8 billion in proceeds from cap and trade in the 2017/2018 fiscal year.

On March 22, 2017, Ontario successfully administered its first ever standalone cap and trade auction of GHG emissions allowances, with oversight from an independent market monitor. The auction generated $472 million in proceeds.

Ontario’s second standalone cap and trade auction was successfully held on June 6, 2017. That auction generated $504 million in proceeds.

Ontario’s third standalone cap and trade auction was successfully held on September 6, 2017. That auction generated $526 million in proceeds.

Ontario’s fourth standalone cap and trade auction was successfully held on November 29, 2017. That auction generated $422 million in proceeds.

The total amount of Ontario auction proceeds that have been recorded in the GGRA as of December 31, 2017 is $1,924 million. The results of the first four Ontario cap and trade auctions are encouraging. These auction results demonstrate that the Ontario cap and trade market is functioning as intended and that there is solid market engagement.

Determining Which Initiatives Should be Supported

Every dollar from auction proceeds is required, by legislation, to be invested in a transparent way back into initiatives, such as those detailed in CCAP, that are reasonably likely to reduce, or support the reduction of, GHGs. The legislation requires that the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change undertake a review and provide an evaluation of initiatives seeking funding to the Treasury Board for consideration prior to any amounts being funded by the GGRA.

Each of the 43 initiatives with committed funding listed in Section 3, the Minister’s Progress Report, have been independently reviewed and evaluated by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.

The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change’s evaluation is focused on the potential GHG reductions, in consideration of the targets set by the CCMLEA.

As a part of the Minister’s review and evaluation, the Minister also considered how the initiatives support the shift to a low-carbon economy, while helping First Nation and Métis, low-income households, and vulnerable communities to avoid carbon costs and participate in the low-carbon economy.

More details on the process and considerations for the Minister’s review and evaluation are provided in Section 2.

Ontario’s Historical Emissions and Emissions Forecast

Appendix A provides an overview of Ontario’s historical and forecasted emissions. Information on our historical emissions is drawn from the National Inventory Report.

The emission forecasts represent our best estimate of the impact cap and trade and CCAP investments will have on emissions in Ontario.

MOECC continues to work on refining its data collection and the methodologies it makes use of to properly assess these interactions and appropriately attribute emission reductions to CCAP.

Section 2: Report on the Minister’s Review and Evaluation

Legislative Requirements for the Minister’s Review and Evaluation

The CCMLEA requires the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to undertake a review and provide an evaluation of initiatives to Treasury Board for consideration prior to amounts being funded from the GGRA.

The review must include the following:

• The potential GHG reductions
• The relationship of the initiative to the achievement of Ontario’s GHG emission reduction targets
• The relationship of the initiative to other potential planned and funded initiatives to reduce GHGs
• The relationship of the initiative to CCAP
• Whether the initiative is also likely to assist low-income households and vulnerable communities with their transition to a low-carbon economy
• Other matters that the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change considers appropriate.

The CCMLEA requires the Minister to report at least once a year on the evaluation of initiatives provided to Treasury Board that are funded from the GGRA. The initiatives that the Minister has evaluated are listed in Section 3.1 (Funded CCAP Initiatives) and 3.2 (Green Investment Fund).

General Principles

Overall, the framework for the evaluation of funding decisions is based on the following principles:

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Support the reduction of GHG emissions sufficient to meet the government’s targets with made-in-Ontario reductions that assist Ontario households and businesses in transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
• Economic Benefit: Promote productivity and innovation to transition to a low-carbon economy while reducing the risk of carbon leakage and unnecessary capital outflow.
• Sound Financial Management: Proceeds collected and spent should be well-managed in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Transparency: Ensure that information regarding the collection and use of regulatory proceeds is made publicly available in a manner that demonstrates how proceeds are being used to reduce emissions and is consistent with legal principles of a regulatory charge.
• Collaboration: Leverage partnerships between and among the private and public sectors where possible.
• Support for Existing Programs: Existing commitments that were made primarily for purposes other than reducing carbon emissions, but where GHG reduction co-benefits exist, may be considered for funding using auction proceeds.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

To ensure that initiatives are reviewed and evaluated in a fair and objective manner, and to provide accountability and transparency, all initiatives are reviewed by inter-ministerial committees prior to the Minister conducting a final review and evaluation.

To support the consistent assessment of initiatives, MOECC coordinated an inter-ministerial intake and assessment process to ensure complete and accurate information was provided to inform the Minister’s review and evaluation.

The following criteria were assessed:

• GHG reductions:

  • Net new reductions
  • Sustainable, long-term reductions
  • Gross reductions

The CCMLEA also requires the Minister to review other matters, which this report refers to as additional benefits, including:

• Supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy:

  • Economic and productivity benefits, including contribution to long-term financial prosperity of the province and an increase in quality employment opportunities, especially in Northern Ontario
  • Infrastructure and energy benefits, including transformative changes to infrastructure and energy generation
  • Innovation benefits to target specific gaps and drive new business models
  • Behavioural change impacts including raising awareness and encouraging adoption of low-carbon choices
  • Leveraging of funds, collaboration and partnerships, allowing more funding and information to be shared across initiatives where external funding options are available.

• Supporting low-income households and vulnerable communities:

  • Helping to protect and support low-income households, vulnerable communities and many renters from the cost impacts of carbon pricing
  • To the greatest extent possible, new incentive programs created under this plan are intended to provide an increased benefit to low-income households to ensure they have the resources necessary to reduce their carbon footprint, avoid carbon costs and participate in the low-carbon economy
  • Households in some parts of the province, such as rural and northern communities, including remote First Nation communities, may not have alternative options readily available for the type of energy sources they currently receive, or require. Targeted programs will be available to help these households reduce the costs of heating and cooling their homes.

• Supporting additional benefits:

  • Environmental benefits, including contribution to cleaner air, cleaner water and wastewater reduction.
  • Social and health benefits, including targeting key skills gaps and building capacity but also reducing mortality rates by contributing to cleaner air.

Minister’s Evaluation of Initiatives

The Minister also reviewed and evaluated initiatives that support and enable longer-term reductions. These initiatives included pilot and research projects, as well as projects focussed on behaviour change.

Pilot Projects
Pilot projects involve research and testing of new or existing technology for feasibility and viability. Pilot projects provide ideal conditions to test and calculate their GHG reduction potential. Broader scale adoption of these initiatives has the potential for greater GHG reductions.

Research Projects
Research projects are undertaken in order to introduce existing technologies to Ontario or to test new and emerging innovations and technologies. These projects are intended to affect policy and behaviour change, lower GHG emissions when implemented, and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Long-Term Behaviour Change Projects
These projects emphasize the provision of tools and information to affect behaviour change, promote GHG reductions and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Financial Reporting

As outlined in the 2017 Budget, Ontario’s cap and trade program is expected to generate proceeds of $1.8 billion in 2017-18.

As of December 31, 2017, Ontario held four standalone cap and trade auctions. The total amount of Ontario auction proceeds to date that have been recorded in the Ontario GGRA is $1,924 million, which by law will be invested in programs that are reasonably likely to reduce, or support the reduction of GHG pollution.

The annual level of activity in the GGRA will be presented in supplementary information in Volume 1 of the Public Accounts. A report providing further detail on proceeds credited to the GGRA and funding allocated from it will be released annually in conjunction with the release of Public Accounts.

The ‘commitment’ information in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 below represents the funding amounts ministries have been authorized to commit for each initiative as of December 31, 2017.

Section 3: Minister’s CCAP Progress Report

The Minister’s CCAP Progress Report is presented in three sections: 3.1 Funded CCAP Initiatives, 3.2 Green Investment Fund and 3.3 CCAP Policy Initiatives.

Section 3.1 lists the CCAP initiatives with current authorized funding commitments as of December 31, 2017 and is separated into six themes:

• Homes, Buildings, and Industry
• Electric Vehicles
• Transit, Freight & Active Transportation
• Government
• Agriculture, Forestry & Waste
• Municipal and Indigenous Partnerships

Section 3.2 lists the initiatives funded through the Green Investment Fund.

Section 3.3 lists policy initiatives that are not funded by auction proceeds. These initiatives leverage new and existing legislation and other policy instruments.

Figure 1: Estimated GHG Reductions Associated with 2017/18 Initiatives Identified in CCAP

Figure 1 summarizes the estimated GHG reductions resulting from 2017/18 initiated investments identified under CCAP in 2020 (column 2), and forecasted over their expected useful life (column 3). The cost per tonne of initiatives averaged over their CCAP sector are also included (column 4).

3.1: Minister’s CCAP Progress Report: Funded CCAP initiatives

Sector: Homes, Buildings and Industry

Estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 50,245,000 tonnes, $96 per tonne

Low Carbon Building Skills, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD)

The initiative is focused on improving training for current and future workers to become skilled in low carbon building projects — including retrofits, green construction and building operations — to help reduce GHG emissions from buildings in Ontario.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to result in behavioural change as future generations of skilled trades' people will have increased capacity to adopt low-carbon technologies and techniques through the development of green building skills.

The initiative is also expected to result in green employment through the support of employers and labour organizations in developing sector-based training partnerships that support low carbon building skills.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $45,000,000 - $70,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 8 Training, Workforce and Technical Capacity

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $24,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The ministry released three calls for proposals to assist non-college training delivery agents, colleges, universities, and other industry partners to acquire new equipment and increase their capacity to train current and future workers to develop low carbon building skills. Visit MAESD’s website for more details about the calls for proposals.

MAESD has contracted a third party to conduct research and stakeholder engagement to determine future industry training needs by identifying labour market trends, labour demands, and gaps in skills and training related to low carbon buildings.

More information on the program can be found in MAESD’s news release.

Hospital Energy Efficiency Program, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC)

The Hospital Energy Efficiency Program (HEEP) provides capital funding to help hospitals retrofit their facilities with energy efficient and renewable energy technologies.

HEEP will also reduce GHGs by collecting and recycling waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) in all of Ontario’s operating rooms.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits expected from the project include: economic development through significant public infrastructure investment; job creation; reinvestments into patient care; strengthening infrastructure; and, innovation through the collection and recycling of WAGs in Ontario’s operating rooms.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $400,000,000 - $800,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $64,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date

This province wide program was launched on November 27, 2017. More information on the program can be found in MOHLTC’s news release.

In 2017/18, Ontario is funding 180 projects at 98 hospitals across the province, including 117 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) projects, 35 lighting projects and 28 projects that address other energy efficiency needs at hospitals.

By 2020-21, more than $60 million a year could be saved in annual energy-related costs.

Hospitals from all 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) received funding for retrofits.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (school retrofits), Ministry of Education (EDU)

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) aims to reduce GHG emissions from school buildings.

This province wide fund allocates funding to school boards across the province to replace, renew and install new energy efficient low carbon building components that support or have a proven impact on the reduction of GHG emissions.

Eligible projects may include installing real-time energy monitoring systems, lighting systems upgrades or replacing boilers and HVAC systems.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits include: creating jobs in repair and construction; improving the condition of schools; creating financial savings from reduced energy consumption which can be reinvested in schools to enhance student learning; and, upgrades to equipment, such as HVAC, which can result in better air quality for students and staff, meaning healthier and more comfortable learning and working environments.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $400,000,000 - $800,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $200,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This program was launched in April 2017. As of August 31, 2017, 600 schools and 280,000 students have benefitted from the initiative.

More information about this initiative including a list of eligible school boards and funding commitments can be found at the Newsroom website.

Social Housing Apartment Improvement Program, Ministry of Housing (MHO)

The Social Housing Apartment Improvement Program (SHAIP) is a five-year, province-wide investment of up to $657 million^{footnote 5[5]} for GHG retrofits and repairs to social housing apartment buildings. The program includes high rise social housing buildings and social housing apartment buildings of 150 units or more.

In 2017, consultations were carried out with Indigenous partners to better understand how best to address their retrofit needs under this program.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

SHAIP is anticipated to have the following additional benefits: better living conditions for low-income and vulnerable tenants; green employment; and financial savings from reduced operating costs that can be reinvested in repairs and maintenance.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $380,000,000 - $500,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $225,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

SHAIP was announced on August 24, 2017. MHO is working with service managers, Indigenous partners and social housing providers to establish agreements for projects by March 2018. A news release with more program information can be found at Newsroom website.

Building Code Climate Change Research, Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA)

This initiative involves developing a research program for the design and engineering of tall wood-frame buildings, advanced building assemblies, and energy efficient building systems.

The proposed research projects would be used to reduce GHG emissions in the building sector by supporting the development of future Building Code climate change requirements.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to result in behavioural change within Ontario’s building industry to reduce GHG emissions.

By establishing progressively stringent energy efficient requirements in the building code as a result of the research, Ontario would be signalling a transition to net-zero energy construction.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $500,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

MMA is carrying out three research projects to support climate change building code research:

1. Test burn to support mass timber construction: MMA has a contract with the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake the test burns. Tests will be undertaken in February and March 2018.
2. Comparison study of energy efficiency standards for large buildings with leading energy codes used in other jurisdictions for future consideration. A request for bids (RFB) was issued in November 2017. Work commenced in January 2018 and will be completed by March 2018.
3. Solar Roof Loading: An RFB was issued in November 2017. Work commenced in January 2018 and will be completed by March 2018.

Mass Timber (Tall Wood) Building Project, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)

Mass timber are large engineered wood products that include wood panels, beams and columns used for constructing floors, walls and roofs in larger buildings.

This initiative focuses on researching and developing mass timber programs and funding mass wood buildings in several demonstration projects to showcase the commercial viability of innovative wood building.

This initiative will also establish a mass timber institute aimed at research education and training, product development and more.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to increase knowledge of woods’ potential as an advanced and sustainable building material, contribute to the development of a skilled workforce, create jobs through increased use of domestic wood, spur activity in the cleantech sector, and increase collaboration with Indigenous communities.

This initiative will drive clean-tech building innovation and spur new business opportunities in the manufacturing of advanced building materials and systems and support the forestry sector directly by consuming an additional 250,000 cubic metres of lumber. This means more jobs throughout the forestry sector. This initiative will also help with the reduction of the 30% to 40% of landfill that comes from building construction and demolition.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area Training, Workforce and Technical Capacity

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $4,830,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

MNRF worked with several partners including the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bioeconomy (CRIBE) to discuss various demonstration, research and training projects.

MNRF developed the “Ontario’s Tall Wood Building Reference” for building officials, architects, engineers, contractors, and others to support applications for building permits for tall (7+ stories) wood buildings in Ontario. Visit the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association website for a copy of “Ontario’s Tall Wood Building Reference”.

MNRF is developing an Ontario Life Cycle Assessment Carbon Calculator to support analyses of GHG emissions for different construction materials.

MNRF is supporting the National Research Council’s National Building Code of Canada research and development related to tall wood buildings up to 12 stories.

Visit the Government of Ontario’s website for more information on Building with Wood.

MNRF collaborated with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)’s ‘Green Construction through Wood’ Program to issue a call for proposals for tall wood building demonstration projects in October 2017. The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) was December 6, 2017. MNRF received five EOIs.

Green Ontario Fund, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC)

The Green Ontario Fund (GreenON) is a not-for-profit provincial agency tasked with reducing GHGs from buildings and industry to help meet Ontario’s emission reduction targets.

The agency is funded through proceeds from Ontario’s Carbon Market.

GreenON helps consumers and businesses identify low-carbon technologies to manage energy costs and reduce GHG emissions, and make it more affordable to adopt them.

GreenON is also known as the Ontario Climate Change Solutions Deployment Corporation, which is a new, Board-governed provincial agency established by Ontario Regulation 46/17: Ontario Climate Change Solutions Deployment Corporations.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

GreenON is expected to strengthen the environment and economy by stimulating innovation, creating jobs, and providing companies with a competitive advantage.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $875,000,000 - $1,100,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1 Industry and Business

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $378,050,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The Agency was established in February 2017. Visit Ontario’s e-Laws website to view the regulation. The Board of Directors was established in June 2017.

The Agency and one-stop shop website (GreenON.ca) launched its first program, the GreenON Installations Program, in August 2017. Under the program, 150,000 home owners are eligible to receive an installed smart thermostat and home energy advice, at no cost. Visit GreenON’s website for more information on GreenON Installations. Visit the Newsroom website for the GreenON news release.

GreenON Industries, a new $200 million program, launched on December 8, 2017. This program provides industries with more support for innovative projects to reduce GHGs from their facilities or manufacturing processes. The program supports large scale industrial projects. Visit the Ontario Centres of Excellence website for more information on GreenON Industries. Visit the Newsroom website for the GreenON Industries news release.

GreenON Rebates launched on December 13, 2017 and provides incentives for homeowners seeking to adopt low carbon technologies such as higher efficiency windows, air source heat pumps, and ground source heat pumps. Through this program, families can now access rebates to complete low-carbon, energy-efficient renovations to their homes. In addition to the renovation rebates, homeowners and tenants can access a $100 smart thermostat rebate through a partnership with Save on Energy. Visit GreenON’s website for more information on GreenON Rebates.

The Green Ontario Fund’s GreenON Support program is a free over-the-phone service offering impartial advice from energy experts to help consumers learn how they can save money and reduce their carbon footprint through home upgrades. Visit GreenON’s website for more information about the GreenON Support program.

The Green Ontario Fund will be launching more programs for consumers and businesses in 2018.

Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofits Program (Colleges), MAESD

This initiative provides grants and interest free capital loans to publicly funded colleges in Ontario for GHG emission reducing retrofits.

The program consists of three funding streams:

• Retrofits Grant Fund for Cap and Trade Non-Participants is available to all 24 colleges and allocated based on each of their recent GHG emissions;
• Innovation Grant Fund is competitive and designed for larger projects; and,
• Interest Free Loan Fund is available to all colleges for retrofit projects providing a payback within 10 years. The program subsidizes only the interest for these loans.

MAESD has a list of projects eligible for funding. Projects that have been certified by a third party for GHG emissions reductions and are approved by MAESD are also eligible.

Projects must be part of campus sustainability plans (existing or under development). Sustainability plans must outline benefits beyond GHG emissions reductions such as offering opportunities for students to learn about retrofit and construction projects on campus.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include green job creation through the retrofitting of colleges, energy savings, student experiential learning through retrofit projects on campus, skills development, and training, upgrades to equipment, such as HVAC, better air quality for students and staff, healthier and more comfortable learning and working environments and, the Innovation Grant stream will encourage innovation through deeper, leading-edge projects.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $400,000,000 - $800,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.2 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $100,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

MAESD started the application process with colleges in June 2017.

The program was publicly announced on February 12, 2018. Visit the Newsroom website for the announcement news release.

For the Retrofits Grant Fund for Cap and Trade Non-Participants, MAESD has completed the review of project proposals. Communication of project eligibility was made in late January 2018, and funding letters are to be sent to colleges in March 2018.

For the Innovation Grant Fund, the evaluation process for single-year competitive proposals is complete and funding decisions have been made. Communications to successful proponents was made in late January 2018, and public announcements are to follow. It is anticipated that agreements will be signed in March 2018. The evaluation process for multi-year proposals is underway.

For the Interest Free Loan Fund, it is anticipated that loan application packages will be ready for colleges by the end of fiscal year 2017-18. It is expected that the total value for the combined loan fund will be $300,000,000 for colleges and universities.

Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofits Program (Universities), MAESD

This initiative provides grants and interest-free capital loans to publicly funded universities in Ontario for GHG emission reducing retrofits.

The program consists of three funding streams:

• Retrofits Grant Fund for Cap and Trade Non-Participants is available to the 12 universities that do not participate in the provincial Cap and Trade program. Funding is allocated based on their recent GHG emissions;
• Innovation Grant Fund is competitively allocated and designed for larger projects; and,
• Interest Free Loan Fund is available to all universities for retrofit projects that provide a payback within 10 years. Note that the program subsidizes only the interest for these loans.

MAESD has a list of projects eligible for funding. Projects that have been certified by a third party for GHG emissions reductions and are approved by MAESD are also eligible.

Projects must be part of campus sustainability plans (existing or under development). Plans must outline benefits beyond GHG emissions reductions such as offering opportunities for students to learn about retrofit and construction projects on campus.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include green job creation through the retrofitting of universities, energy savings, student experiential learning through retrofit projects on campus, skills development, and training, upgrades to equipment, such as HVAC, better air quality for students and staff, healthier and more comfortable learning and working environments and, the Innovation Grant stream will encourage innovation through deeper, leading-edge projects.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $400,000,000 - $800,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.2 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $100,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

MAESD started the application process with universities in June 2017.

The program was publicly announced on February 12, 2018. Visit the Newsroom website for the announcement news release.

For the Retrofits Grant Fund for Cap and Trade Non-Participants, MAESD has completed the review of project proposals. Communication of project eligibility was made in late January, and funding letters are to be sent to universities in March 2018.

For the Innovation Grant Fund, the evaluation process for single-year competitive proposals is complete and funding decisions have been made. Communications to successful proponents was made in late January 2018, with public announcements to follow. It is anticipated that agreements will be signed in March 2018.

The evaluation process for multi-year proposals is underway.

For the Interest Free Loan Fund, it is anticipated that loan application packages will be ready for universities by the end of this fiscal year. It is expected that the total value for the combined loan fund will be $300,000,000 for colleges and universities.

Sector: Government

Estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 704,000, $199 per tonne

2030 Emissions Target, Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI)

This initiative will support the Ontario Public Service (OPS) 2030 target of reducing GHG emissions by 50% (or approximately 60,000 tonnes) by improving energy conservation and installing low carbon technologies across government-owned facilities.

Building systems will be upgraded and low energy retrofits will be installed to improve the performance of existing buildings.

Government real estate will also showcase examples of Ontario clean technology, such as the use of small wood fire combustors in remote areas of the province.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative could create or preserve an estimated 2,500 jobs in the building renovation sector.

The upgrades / renovations can also lead to approximately $11 million per year in repairs, utility and maintenance costs.

Showcasing Ontario’s cleantech sector will promote business and within the province and promote cleantech on the national and international stages.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $165,000,000 - $175,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1 Government

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $3,900,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

Infrastructure Ontario, on behalf of MOI, has started 10 projects in government owned buildings that will help reduce GHGs. They include capital improvements such as boiler and lighting upgrades, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades and the installation of a geothermal system.

Sector: Electric Vehicles

Estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 1,371,000 tonnes, $396 per tonne

Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Advancement Partnership, MOECC

The Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Advancement Partnership (EHVAP) is aimed at bringing together various partners in the automotive, academic and environmental sectors to contribute to the government’s 2020 low-emission vehicle sales target, which is that 5% of passenger cars sold/leased in 2020 be hydrogen or electric vehicles.

The EHVAP will educate Ontarians about the electric and hydrogen vehicle options that are available and emerging. Greater consumer awareness will mean more informed vehicle buying decisions.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

EHVAP will support skills training to maintain new electric and hydrogen vehicles and charging / fueling infrastructure, as well as training for auto dealers to help drive sales.

EHVAP Partners will be encouraged to collaborate on overcoming barriers and improving the saleability of electric and hydrogen vehicles.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.6 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $88,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The program was launched in January 2017. Visit the Newsroom website for the announcement news release.

A panel of industry experts evaluated plans that were submitted by Partners. The plans are aimed at encouraging the manufacture, maintenance and sales of electric and hydrogen vehicles.

The evaluations of these plans are now complete and a year-end summary report is expected in 2018 which will highlight the Partnership’s total commitments for advancing low-emission vehicles in Ontario to 2020.

Visit the Government of Ontario’s website for more program details on EHVAP.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure, MOI

This initiative installs EV charging stations at government offices, GO stations, Service Ontario offices, driver examination locations, Ontario Parks and LCBO and OLG locations across the province.

This initiative is expected to drive the adoption of electric vehicles through increased visibility and accessibility of public charging stations.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to result in behavioural change through increased availability of reliable and efficient EV infrastructure and will generate benefits through the installation of charging units at government owned site that are accessible to Northern, First Nation, and Métis communities.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $500,000 - $2,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area: Not featured in the plan

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $1,500,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

As of December 2017, 85 charging units have been installed, on schedule and on budget, with approximately 23 charging units remaining for fiscal year 2017-18. Most of the charging stations are located in Northern Ontario.

There will be a total of 108 EV charging units installed by the end of March 2018. A total of 200 EV charging units will be installed by March 2019.

MOI has completed the Enterprise Plan for the installation of EV charging infrastructure at government owned realty. The plan outlines when partner ministries are to begin their respective plans to implement EV charging infrastructure at their owned locations.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, MTO

This initiative installs EV charging infrastructure at government-owned properties including GO stations.

Installing electric vehicle charging units at GO stations helps address potential driver concerns about running out of electricity and raises awareness of EVs as a viable alternative to less fuel efficient vehicles.

EV charging infrastructure at GO stations will allow GO commuters to charge their EVs while they use the GO transit system, supporting zero-emission travel to and from GO stations.

Having visible public charging stations provides comfort to EV drivers that they can travel further from home and still charge their vehicle when needed. As a result, more people could be encouraged to purchase an EV which reduces emissions.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to result in behavioural change through increased availability of reliable EV infrastructure.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $500,000 - $2,000,000

CCAP Alignment: Not featured in the plan

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $770,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

Metrolinx is updating EV chargers at 11 GO rail stations:

• Lakeshore East Line: Pickering, Ajax, Whitby
• Lakeshore West Line: Clarkson, Oakville, Burlington
• Milton Line: Erindale
• Stouffville Line: Centennial, Lincolnville
• Barrie Line: Aurora
• Richmond Hill Line: Gormley

Metrolinx will also be installing chargers at an additional four stations.

Electric Vehicle Education and Awareness, MTO

This province-wide initiative promotes the benefits of electric vehicles to dealerships and consumers.

A public awareness campaign will focus on educating consumers about the benefits of EVs and available government support.

Automotive dealers can be an important source of information for consumers considering a new vehicle purchase. Dealer education initiatives will help to ensure that dealers have the knowledge and tools that they need to successfully sell EVs.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Production of EVs has the potential to create new jobs, secure existing positions and support thousands of direct and indirect jobs across Ontario’s automotive supply chain. For example, the Chrysler Pacifica, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is currently being manufactured at the Windsor Assembly Plant and is eligible for incentives under the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (EVIP).

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $1,750,000 - $2,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.7 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $3,050,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

MTO is currently working to procure organization(s) to assist in the assessment of what Ontario should develop, who to target, and the creation of materials to raise awareness among consumers.

The ministry is also working on approaches to develop and deliver a dealer education program.

Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre, MOECC

The Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre (EVDC) is a first-of-its-kind facility that lets Ontarians test drive EVs while learning more about the environmental and economic benefits of switching to low-carbon transportation.

The EVDC tells Ontarians about the EV options already available and those that are coming to promote consumer awareness and empowered purchasing decisions. It will create a living/learning model environment that will allow consumers to discover EVs through direct access to information and vehicles.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Educating drivers about the many benefits of EVs is a proven method to help them switch from gas vehicles to EVs.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $1,750,000 - $2,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.7 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $1,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The EVDC opened in Spring 2017. Visit the plug ‘n drive website for the news release and additional program details.

As of December 27, 2017, EVDC has had 6,725 visitors, held 67 events, and enabled 2,126 EV test drives.

Based on surveys, 94% of visitors plan to buy an EV in the future. A follow-up survey to visitors suggests 23% have already purchased an EV.

The EVDC is located in North York and is open to visitors six days per week.

To further support this initiative, funding will come from industry, in addition to the Government of Ontario. Discovery sponsors, including Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Power Workers’ Union, TD, Bruce Power and Toronto Hydro, have signaled their support in line with the strategic objectives of the EVDC.

Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario, MTO

The Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) initiative assists employers, commercial building owners and managers in installing charging stations at their workplaces.

This initiative provides tools and information to help people switch to electric vehicles and reduce their carbon footprint.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include an increase in job creation through the installation and maintenance of charging equipment.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $80,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.5.1 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $20,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This initiative will support a number of funding streams.

• In January 2018, MTO launched the Workplace Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program (WEVCIP). Visit the Newsroom website for the news release.

It is too early to report on progress or outcomes, but interest in the program has exceeded ministry expectations. For more program details, visit MTO’s website.

• MTO is planning to launch a new funding stream for public charging in early 2018. Program development is currently underway.
• Funding is also being used to install level 2 EV chargers at eight carpool lots as a pilot this year. Installation is underway and expected to be completed by mid-March 2018.

Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, MTO

The Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (EVIP) was established in 2010 to reduce the price gap between conventional gasoline vehicles and similar EV models. The EVIP provides financial support to buy or lease an EV.

MTO bases the incentive for each vehicle model on its battery and seating capacity.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to increase presence and purchasing of EV models in Ontario by making EVs more affordable and increase job creation through growing volume of EV model production in the automotive industry.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $140,000,000 0 $160,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.1 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $47,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

From April to December 2017, MTO provided approximately 4,000 incentives.

Since the launch of EVIP in 2010, MTO has provided approximately 10,000 incentives. Visit the Newsroom website for the launch news release.

Incentives were updated on January 1, 2017 to further support the goals of Ontario’s CCAP by:

• Making EVs even more affordable
• Providing incentives for EVs with larger batteries and larger seating capacity; and
• Ensuring that zero emission vehicles are more strongly supported.

For more EVIP program details, visit MTO’s website.

Sector: Municipal and Indigenous Partnerships

Estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 3,547,000 tonnes, $85 per tonne

Municipal GHG Challenge Fund, MOECC

The Municipal GHG Challenge Fund supports local climate change reducing actions.

This competitive, application-based program funds up to 100% of the costs for GHG emission reduction projects proposed by municipalities.

Any municipal project that reduces GHG emissions could be eligible for funding, including in buildings, energy supply, water, waste and/or transportation sectors. All Ontario municipalities are eligible to apply.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits for this initiative include green employment; benefits for low income and vulnerable communities; strengthening infrastructure; cost savings for municipalities through energy conservation; and leveraging provincial funding through municipal contributions.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $250,000,000 - $300,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.1 Land-Use Planning

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $100,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The program launched in August 2017. The deadline to submit an application was November 14, 2017 (later extended to November 17, 2017). Visit the Newsroom website for the program launch news release.

MOECC is currently reviewing applications from municipalities.

A total of 336 applications were received from 117 municipalities across the province.

Visit MOECC’s website for more program details.

Climate Change Tools, MOECC

This initiative will provide Ontarians with climate change tools to help them understand their carbon footprint and how their actions relate to climate change and GHG emissions.

The focus is on indirect GHG reductions and support for the transition to a low carbon-economy.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits for this initiative include behaviour change amongst individuals, communities and businesses by providing actionable information to reduce carbon footprints.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 7.3 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $1,210,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

MOECC has commissioned an Ontario-specific Carbon Calculator that will be publicly available in early 2018 and will provide Ontarians with information to reduce their GHG footprint. The Carbon Calculator will help Ontarians access GreenON funded rebate programs as well as other government programs focused on GHG emission reductions (e.g. electric vehicles).

MOECC is supporting the Canadian Urban Institute to collect data and map GHG emissions in downtown Toronto. The data and tools will be used to engage office building owners in reducing GHG emissions.

MOECC is also supporting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Climate CoLab, based out of Cambridge, MA, to launch a digital crowd sourcing contest to source solutions for small and medium sized businesses in early 2018. Winning ideas from this contest will be piloted in Ontario from May 2018 to May 2019.

Indigenous Partnerships Initiative, MOECC

MOECC has worked with the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) to establish an Environment and Climate Change Table to determine broad policy direction on shared environmental priorities between Ontario and First Nations. This group, which consists of the members of the Political Confederacy, is intended to meet biannually.

MOECC has also worked with members of the Political Confederacy to fund capacity and collaboration through regional organizations to develop long-term relationships and provide regular venues for engagement and partnership on climate change issues.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is anticipated to create benefits for First Nation communities, including building longer term capacity for communities, supporting communities to take advantage of green employment opportunities, and environmental benefits.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $85,000,000 - $96,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1 Collaboration with Indigenous Communities

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $4,090,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

Up to December 2017, results include:

• Inaugural Political Table established with Political Confederacy Leadership
• Continued engagement and building of relationships with Indigenous partners
• Continued capacity building related to climate change in Indigenous communities and organizations
• Funding of positions to provide capacity on climate change and related matters within Indigenous communities

New agreements are currently being developed for continued support.

Program Partnerships, MOECC

MOECC is partnering with community organizations, institutions and the private sector to find new and innovative ideas to help reduce GHG emissions and to offer Ontarians more opportunities to adopt low-carbon everyday behaviours. This action recognizes the capabilities that partners such as schools, non-profits and businesses offer in designing and delivering low-carbon initiatives.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits for this initiative include: behaviour change that leads to low carbon choices; economic development and green employment; and, collaboration and partnerships with external stakeholders, organizations and other levels of government.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $7,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area: Actions not featured in the plan

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $3,550,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The work to December 2017 included:

• Launching of the Partners in Climate Action (PiCA) competitive grant program which received more than 100 applications. This initiative will pilot innovative behaviour based approaches to speed up action on climate change. Ten proposals have been selected for funding. These projects are expected to be completed by March 2019. Visit MOECC’s website for more program details about Partners in Climate Action.
• Completing research and developing a strategy to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and climate change policies on low income households.
• Supporting the Centre for Social Innovation’s Agents of Change program which provided targeted business development support to 21 social enterprises that aim to reduce GHGs. These groups address a range of challenges including urban low-carbon food production, solar charging, getting people to walk and bike more, and diverting waste from landfill. Visit the Centre for Social Innovation’s website for more detail on their Agents of Change program.
• Supporting EcoSchools which engages schools and students across the province in climate change campaigns and actions. Climate Change Workshops for teachers were delivered in several towns and cities and 122 schools from 32 school boards took part in the Climate Leadership Contest. Visit the EcoSchools website for more information on their climate change programs.
• MOECC also supported Wilfred Laurier University in a design contest in which students developed video games aimed at getting people to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Supporting a partnership between Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, the cities of Hamilton and Burlington and Sustainable Hamilton Burlington. This partnership involves collaboration amongst the academic, small business, local government, and community sectors which will come together to innovate, identify solutions to local GHG reduction challenges, and achieve more together than they could separately.

Through these initiatives a total of 26,500 people and more than 630 organizations have been reached.

The Atmospheric Fund, MMA

The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) (formerly the Toronto Atmospheric Fund) reduces GHG emissions and air pollution in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) through community grants, collaboration with stakeholders, and financing for entrepreneurs whose products or services significantly reduce GHGs in the GTHA. It also supports developers and property owners who are making their buildings more energy efficient.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include behavioral change in the form of knowledge transfer to ensure that any findings on effective GHG emission reduction strategies are shared and potentially applied broadly.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: N/A

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $17,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This initiative was announced in October 2016. Visit TAF’s website for the announcement news release and additional program details.

In 2017, TAF identified new opportunities to support high-impact projects and enhance community capacity to drive improved outcomes for the GTHA. As a result, regional practitioners will have more knowledge, skills and resources to effectively develop and implement GHG emission reduction strategies.

Up to December 2017, TAF has:

• Expanded their geographic scope to the GTHA.
• Developed the first-ever region-wide GHG emissions inventory that will support regional programming, grant-making, investment decisions, policy and program development and help track progress.
• Actively engaged with community leaders and local practitioners throughout the region who helped inform a strategy for supporting and attracting fundable projects throughout the GTHA; this has been integrated into TAF's 2018 business plan.
• Invested the $17 million endowment provided by the Province of Ontario in keeping with TAF's investment policy, generating a return on investment (market value) of approximately $1,000,000 (unaudited to December 31, 2017).
• Deployed the proceeds to fund projects that test innovative, high-impact approaches to reducing GHG emissions across the GTHA.

Sector: Transit, Freight & Active Transportation

Estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 3,193,000 tonnes, $242 per tonne

Electric Municipal Buses, MTO

There are no zero emission electric buses on Ontario’s roads today. The Electric Bus Pilot will provide information on the benefits and challenges of operating fully electric buses and charging equipment in Ontario.

An objective of the initiative is to support mass electrification of transit over the next five to 10 years.

Funding support has been provided to York Region Transit and Brampton Transit to purchase fully electric buses and chargers to test their operation. Funding also goes toward the Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Trial (E-Bus Pilot), being led by the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC).

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

The pilot is expected to move demand away from buses that use petroleum and towards electricity.

In the longer-term, successfully integrating e-buses as part of York Region Transit and Brampton Transit fleets could result in wider-spread adoption of clean technologies in transit agencies across the province.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area: Actions not featured in the plan

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $13,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

Work is underway to purchase the buses.

Green Commercial Vehicle Program, MTO

The Green Commercial Vehicle Program (GCVP) is province-wide and is aimed at the commercial transportation sector, where incentives are being provided to buy alternative fuel vehicles such as electric, natural gas or diesel-natural gas dual fuel vehicles, and for fuel saving devices such as aerodynamic devices, anti-idling devices or electric refrigeration units.

The program’s objective is to reduce GHG emissions from moving freight and non-passenger-related services by encouraging a shift towards low-carbon fuels and fuel saving devices.

The program provides funding to help offset the incremental / upfront cost of adoption and to encourage industry to deploy new low-carbon choices. It aims to influence behaviour by reducing financial constraints and expanding focus beyond the short-term and immediate costs.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Improvements to fuel efficiency will result in cost savings for participating businesses. Cost savings also have the potential to contribute to increased productivity.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $125,000,000 - $170,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 4.1 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $14,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The Program was announced December 14, 2017. Visit the Newsroom website for the announcement news release.

The applications windows opened January 30, 2018. A program guide has been provided to interested parties on how to register in advance so that they can apply online immediately when the form is available. Visit MTO’s website for a copy of the program guide.

Visit MTO’s website for additional details on the Green Commercial Vehicle Program.

Electric School Bus Pilot, MTO

This province-wide initiative aims to determine the operational feasibility, benefits, and constraints to the deployment of electric school buses (ESBs) within school bus operator fleets across Ontario in a range of weather conditions.

Under the pilot program, funding will be provided to school bus operators to purchase electric vehicles and chargers.

As part of the pilot program, MTO is proposing to procure an academic institution or research organization to conduct ongoing data gathering and analysis during the implementation of the pilot program.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include: increased visibility of these vehicles, combined with the growing availability of charging infrastructure, may increase awareness and stimulate electric vehicle sales.

This initiative has the potential to: support secondary sectors such as battery and charging station providers and support existing investments in fuel charging technology and infrastructure.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $10,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area: Actions not featured in the plan

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $8,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The program was announced in August 2017 and the application window closed in October 2017. Visit the Newsroom website for the announcement news release.

34 applications, including two from First Nation communities, have been received. In February 2018, successful applicants were in the process of being finalized.

In addition, a researcher will be contracted in 2018 to collect data for a business case that operators can use to justify the purchase of electric school buses.

Cycling – Commuter Programs, MTO

This initiative will encourage more people to ride bicycles instead of driving vehicles powered by fossil fuels. This will be done by removing provincial barriers to local cycling networks, building better cycling infrastructure, making improvements to GO Transit facilities, and working with municipalities.

It will also deliver an education and awareness campaign to promote cycling as a viable option for commuting.

This initiative is leveraging the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program (OMCC) and the Provincial Cycling Infrastructure Program.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include: making cycling a safer and more convenient activity in urban and suburban areas and creating a better understanding of the individual and combined effectiveness of each type of infrastructure.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $150,000,000 - $225,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 3 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $103,500,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The Cycling - Commuter Programs was announced in September 2017. Visit the Newsroom website for the announcement news release.

Programs being supported include:

• The Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling (OMCC) Program:

  • 120 municipalities applied to participate in the program.
  • Commitments were announced on December 4, 2017.
  • It is anticipated that funds will be provided to municipalities by March 2018.
  • Toronto has received over $25 million in funding for municipal cycling infrastructure under the OMCC Program

  Visit the Newsroom website for a list of municipalities that will receive funding from the province for new bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure.

• Bike Parking at MTO Carpool Lots:

  • Will result in a total of 112 bike lockers being installed at 14 commuter parking lots by the end of March 2018.

    Visit the Newsroom website for a list of locations where bike lockers will be installed.

• Bike Parking at GO Train Stations:

  • Installation of the bike rooms will begin in 2018.

• Cycling Improvements on Provincial Highways:

  • MTO is investing in improvements at four bridges to support commuter cycling in southern Ontario.

• Update to the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18: Cycling Facilities:

  • MTO is investing in a project to update this manual for the design of cycling facilities

GO Regional Express Rail - early works to support future electrification, MTO

GO Regional Express Rail (RER) is a $13.5 billion initiative to transform the GO rail network by providing faster and more frequent service, with electrification of core segments of the network, including Union Pearson (UP) Express.

This will result in more than a doubling of peak service and a quadrupling of off-peak service compared to 2015 levels, with the number of scheduled trips across the entire GO network expected to grow from approximately 1,500 per week to nearly 6,000.

Metrolinx and MTO are planning for extensive upgrades and improvements to the GO Transit rail network, including additional track and bridge modifications across the network, new and upgraded stations, rail/road and rail/rail grade separations, new enhanced train control systems, and new electric train sets.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative will result in GHG reductions as a result of switching trains from diesel to electric and switching from personal vehicles to GO train travel.

RER will provide major economic benefits to the GTHA such as job creation. As well, workers could access a wider range of jobs and employers could draw employees from a wider pool. This could also improve productivity and competitiveness. RER will also improve traffic congestion and reduce costs for businesses.

The service will provide a major new travel choice to commuters, significantly increase ridership and cut journey times.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $355,000,000 - $675,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 5 Transportation

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $359,106,400

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

GO RER involves more than 500 separate projects across 40 municipalities.

Improvements to over 30 GO stations are currently in procurement and planning work is underway with municipal partners on 12 new GO RER stations across the network.

Critical environmental assessments are also underway to expand corridors which will allow for improved service on the Lakeshore East line, Barrie line and at Union Station.

Metrolinx has received provincial environmental approvals to proceed with the GO Rail Network Electrification project.

Infrastructure improvements to support GO RER include supporting increased service levels across the GO rail network, such as the introduction of weekend service on the Barrie line and all-day service on the Stouffville line.

Electrification of core segments of the GO rail network is expected to be completed by 2024-2025.

Sector: Agriculture, Forestry & Waste

Estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 1,445,000 tonnes, $15 per tonne

Land Use Carbon Inventory, MNRF

Once complete, the Land Use Carbon Inventory (LUCI) will support estimations of GHG emissions and removals from agriculture, forestry and other land uses.

LUCI will create a more comprehensive picture of ecological carbon emissions and removals from across the province.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is anticipated to create environmental benefits, encourage collaboration and provide innovative enhancements to science, information and analytical tools.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $2,000,000 - $3,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.1 Agriculture, Forests and Lands

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $750,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This program was announced in August 2017. Visit the Newsroom website for the news release.

An inter-ministerial working group with members from partner ministries was established in late 2016 to collaborate on the project.

The working group is developing a detailed project plan. Technical experts are involved to develop research and science projects, to review and collect existing data, review methodologies, land use maps and address key data and science gaps.

A complete carbon inventory will be developed and implemented by 2020.

50 Million Tree Program, MNRF

The 50 Million Tree Program (50 MTP) was launched in 2008 to restore forest cover on suitable lands to support ecological sustainability and carbon sequestration.

The CCAP commits to doubling the number of trees planted within the boundaries of urban municipalities from 1 to 2 million as part of the 50 MTP.

50 MTP is administered by MNRF in partnership with Forests Ontario. The broader program has a goal of planting 50 million trees by 2025. The program is delivered through a network of more than 65 planting agents across Ontario.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This program will create environmental benefits such as restoring habitats, reducing erosion and improving water quality. The program also reduces forest fragmentation and improves forest connectivity and biodiversity, particularly in southern Ontario

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $500,000 - $1,500,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.1 Agriculture, Forests and Lands

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017):  $380,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

In 2017, over 250,000 trees were planted in urban municipalities across Ontario, creating forests that are the equivalent size of 300 football fields.

Annual tree planting activities were completed in the spring and fall 2017 and the project is on track to meet the target of doubling the number of trees planted within the boundaries of urban municipalities from 1 million to 2 million by 2020. Each year the program has approximately 20 to 25 urban communities participating.

Since the launch of the 50 Million Tree Program in 2008, more than 24 million trees have been planted, creating approximately 13,000 hectares of new forest involving more than 4,000 landowners.

Visit the Forests Ontario website for more details on the 50 Million Tree Program.

Soil Health, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

OMAFRA is developing an Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy to protect the long-term productivity of Ontario’s agricultural soil, while reducing GHG emissions and helping the agricultural sector adapt to a changing climate.

Funding will support:

• A soil mapping project designed to create Ontario soil data and maps that are more relevant to today’s users;
• A cost-share program that encourages the adoption of on-farm practices designed to promote soil health and reduce GHG emissions; and,
• A research project to better understand motivations and barriers in adopting best management practices that may reduce soil GHGs.

The program will:

• Support soil mapping efforts to ensure soil inventory data are current, high quality, accessible and publicly available.
• Increase understanding of ways to mitigate and measure GHG emissions through Ontario’s agricultural soils.
• Drive adoption of best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate soil related GHGs.
• Help agricultural producers shift their focus from near-term yield increases to long-term stewardship of the soil and agricultural systems.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to result in additional benefits related to: innovation, science and technology; increased uptake of improved/innovative agricultural practices by farmers; additional environmental benefits such as improved water quality; and, collaboration and partnerships.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $30,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 3.1 Agriculture, Forests and Lands

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $2,850,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

• Soil Mapping Project:

  • Soil mapping covered approximately 120,000 acres of land in the Ottawa boundary area in 2017.
  • Approximately 1,000 soil inspections have been conducted in the Ottawa boundary area and near Cochrane/Kapuskasing
  • Approximately 3,500 soil samples have been submitted to the laboratory.
  • Farmers are benefitting from accurate, updated soils information using modern earth observation and data management tools.

• Cost Share program:

  • This initiative provides cost sharing for a range of farm practices including:

    • Nutrient management planning
    • The planting of cover crops
    • Biodiversity/habitat enhancements
    • Equipment modifications.
  • As of December 2017, 72 projects were approved.
  • Lessons learned from this activity will inform future cost-share activities that will result in quantified GHG reductions.

• Soil Research Project:

  • This behavioural analysis research project will be completed in fiscal year 2017-18.
  • The preliminary findings of this project are already informing program design for year 2 activities.

Visit OMAFRA’s website for more information on soil health and the Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy.

Agrifood Renewable Natural Gas for Transportation Demonstration Program, OMAFRA

The objectives of this demonstration program are to:

• Support agricultural, food and rural businesses to develop demonstration projects that produce renewable natural gas (RNG) as a transportation fuel, and for transportation businesses to use RNG as a transportation fuel.
• Support sector development so that the lessons learned inform businesses and the province to pursue long-term climate change goals to maximize GHG emission reduction potentials.

This program will demonstrate how the agriculture and food sectors can produce RNG; help transform vehicle fuelling to a renewable source; reduce GHG emissions; reduce transportation costs; keep fuel purchase revenues within Ontario; and, expand waste/by-product reuse.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to provide additional benefits including: procuring locally-produced fuel that keeps fuel spending within the community; promoting local economic development, local spending and jobs; converting organic waste materials that are currently going to landfills to renewable natural gas fuel; an economic solution for food processors to reduce food waste disposal costs; and reduced emissions normally associated with diesel fuel use including NOx, SOx, and particulate emissions.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $60,000,000 - $100,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 6.1 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $1,600,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

OMAFRA consulted on the proposed pilot in May 2017 through the Environmental Registry. Visit Ontario’s Environmental Registry for more information on the consultation.

An agreement between Ontario Centres of Excellence and OMAFRA has been signed for the delivery of a pilot program for the first year.

Visit the Ontario Centres of Excellence website for more details on this demonstration program.

Sector: Enhancing Research and Development

Northern Ontario Freight Transportation Study (Airships), MTO

This initiative will study the feasibility of airships (power-driven aircraft that are kept buoyant by a lighter-than-air gas like helium) for transporting freight in Northern Ontario. The study is expected to include outreach with Far North First Nations and involve academia, the federal government and the aviation private sector.

MTO and the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (MIRR) are interested in hearing and learning from Far North communities about their transportation challenges, specifically related to the transport of food and housing materials. Discussions will be held about the potential use of airships in the region, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) will be considered in developing alternative transportation methods in the Far North.

In recent years, various aerospace and engineering companies have made significant advancements in airship technology. The new ‘hybrid’ technology is aimed at lowering GHG emissions and operating costs while marrying the take-off and landing flexibility of conventional airships with the faster speed, more sophisticated controls and higher payload capacities of conventional airplanes.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Cargo airships have the potential to play a major role in moving equipment and employees to and from future operations in the province’s Ring of Fire region (a chromite mining and smelting project in the James Bay lowlands).

By avoiding the development of land-based infrastructure (i.e., roads, bridges), cargo airships can be more sustainable and better preserve the natural environment.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: N/A

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $300,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

A Request for Bids for technical consulting services to be posted in early 2018.

Invitational procurement under the Aboriginal Procurement Program is being developed for the First Nation outreach component of the study.

TargetGHG: Stream 1 Supplementary Funding, Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS)

Building on the success of the TargetGHG initiative funded under the Green Investment Fund, supplementary funding was provided to support four projects in the Industrial Innovation Demonstration stream which helps large industrial emitters demonstrate GHG emission reductions with the support of innovative companies.

More information about TargetGHG can be found in Section 3.2: Green Investment Fund.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of TargetGHG projects include the creation of new jobs, productivity, training, environmental benefits (clean air, water, and soil) and health benefits.

Additional funding is being provided by project participants. In addition, Alectra Utilities Corporation and Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. are providing funding for the General Motors of Canada project.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $875,000,000 - $1,100,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Industry and Business

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $11,720,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The four projects receiving funding are:

• GM and IGRS Renewable Energy Project (General Motors of Canada, Integrated Gas Recovery Services, Walker Environmental, Alectra Utilities): This project takes landfill gas from Thorold to GM's plant in St.Catharines, where it will be used to generate electricity and space heating, making the plant one of GM's lowest emission facilities globally.
• Mine of the Future: Canada’s First Battery Powered Electric Mine (Goldcorp): This project supports purchases of electric mining equipment for a new mine in Northern Ontario, making it the first all-electric mine in the province and lowering GHG emissions compared to the diesel fuel normally used.
• Commercial Algae Carbon Capture (Pond Technologies, Stelco, SNC-Lavalin): This project converts gases from steel mills into biofuel, reducing GHG emissions and transforming them into marketable products.
• Biogas Upgrading to RNG (Union Gas, StormFisher Environmental Ltd.): Production of renewable natural gas from food waste via anaerobic digestion and delivery to Union Gas.

Low Carbon Innovation Fund, MRIS

The Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF) helps researchers, entrepreneurs and companies create and commercialize new, globally competitive, low-carbon technologies that will help Ontario meet its GHG emissions reduction targets.

The LCIF supports emerging, innovative technologies in areas such as alternative energy generation and conservation, new biofuels or bioproducts, next-generation transportation or novel carbon capture and use technologies.

Preference is given to novel technology solutions that provide the most potential to reduce GHG emissions across a range of sectors, while offering additional environmental, economic and social benefits.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits expected to result from the LCIF initiative include increased development and adoption of clean technology; economic development and productivity improvements; creation of up to 1,400 new jobs; and increased clean tech supply to remote and northern communities.

The program will also result in significant leveraged funding. For example, projects under the Technology Demonstration stream are expected to represent up to $46 million in leveraged funding from industry and project partners.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $140,000,000 - $235,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Research and Development

Progress

Authorized Commitments (as of December 31, 2017): $25,800,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The program was announced in August 2017. Visit the Newsroom website for the news release.

This program has two streams:

1. The Technology Demonstration Stream supports the development and commercialization of innovative low carbon technologies. This stream launched on August 11, 2017 and closed on September 24, 2017. Final decisions and grant negotiations are expected to occur in Winter 2018.
2. The Technology Validation Stream is designed to fund proof of concept or prototype projects from eligible Ontario companies or academic organizations. This stream launched on November 14, 2017. Final decisions and grant negotiation are expected in February/March 2018.

Visit the Government of Ontario’s website for additional details on the Low Carbon Innovation Fund.

3.2: Minister’s CCAP Progress Report: Green Investment Fund

Green Investment Fund – estimated cumulative GHG reductions by 2050: 3,535,700 tonnes, $95 per tonne

Sustainability CoLab, MOECC

MOECC partnered with Sustainability CoLab to fund local environmental organizations in the CoLab Network. For more information about the organization, please visit Sustainability CoLab’s website.

The initiative will speed up the launch, development and growth of sustainability programs in targeted geographic regions to build capacity and deliver GHG reductions in the small business sector.

The CoLab Network is a network of seven not-for-profit organizations across Ontario that provide coaching, resources, tools, networking and learning opportunities that support each other in building a business case for reducing GHGs.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include an increase in economic development opportunities, increased capacity for businesses, and collaboration and partnership amongst participating organizations.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $7,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area: Actions not featured in the plan

Progress

Commitment: $1,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This program launched in February 2016. Visit the Newsroom website for the launch news release.

225 businesses across the province have now joined target-based sustainability programs in the communities where they are offered.

24 participants have set GHG reduction targets. Sustainability CoLab will continue supporting local non-profits in seven communities to engage businesses in GHG target-setting and taking action to reduce GHGs.

Sustainability CoLab has supported programs delivered by local non-profits in seven communities across the province (Kitchener-Waterloo, Kingston, Ottawa, York Region, Hamilton-Burlington, Durham, and, Sudbury).

Activities have included:

• Hosted a Peer Learning teleconference call for all network members, focused on how to best work with businesses to create GHG action plans.
• Reviewed, finalized and launched the set of 2018 metrics that network members will use for their annual reporting this year.
• Completed the development of a carbon accounting training module to strengthen network members’ capacity to collect and report carbon accounting data.
• Coached and regularly communicated with CoLab Network Members to speed up the achievement of program milestones.

Visit the Sustainability Co-Lab website for additional program details.

Social Housing Apartment Retrofit Program, MHO

The Social Housing Apartment Retrofit Program (SHARP) provides funding to retrofit large social housing apartment buildings (150 or more units) across Ontario to reduce GHG emissions. Eligible retrofits include: energy efficient heating and cooling systems and sub-systems, upgraded building insulation, energy efficient exterior doors and windows, upgrading building lighting systems to LED lighting and automated control systems.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include improvements to the long-term sustainability of social housing buildings, improved living conditions for low income and vulnerable tenants, job creation, lower operating costs that can be reinvested into buildings and increased capacity and knowledge for Service Managers.

The retrofits made to the buildings will also improve tenant comfort, and help ensure the long-term physical and financial viability of these social housing units for the future.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $380,000,000 - $500,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Commitment: $82,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This program was launched in February 2016. Visit the Newsroom website for the launch news release.

All funding has been awarded. 78 apartment buildings representing approximately 17,954 units are being retrofitted under this program. The majority of projects are anticipated to be complete by March 31, 2018.

Program funding was distributed to ten Service Managers which are upper or single-tier municipal governments throughout Ontario. These include: Cornwall, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Halton Region, and Peel Region.

Housing providers receiving funding must report prior energy use before carrying out retrofits, as well as three years of post-retrofit energy usage. Providers also had to carry out energy audits on buildings which received funding to confirm proposed retrofits and energy savings.

For more SHARP information specific to Toronto, visit the Newsroom website.

Social Housing Electricity Efficiency Program, MHO

The Social Housing Electricity Efficiency Program (SHEEP) provided funding for retrofits in low-density social housing buildings where tenants pay their own hydro costs.

Funded units are located throughout Ontario, including those in small, rural, northern and Indigenous communities. The funded retrofits will help reduce electricity usage, and provide modest GHG emissions reductions.

Eligible retrofits included: energy efficient electrical heating systems, energy efficiency appliances, more efficient electrical hot water tanks, upgraded building insulation, energy efficient doors and windows, and LED lighting.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include improvements to the long-term sustainability of social housing buildings, improved living conditions for low income and vulnerable tenants, lower costs for tenants, job creation and increased knowledge and capacity for Service Managers.

The retrofits made to the buildings will also improve tenant comfort, and help ensure the long-term physical and financial viability of these social housing units for the future.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $380,000,000 - $500,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Buildings and Homes

Progress

Commitment: $10,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This initiative was launched in February 2016. Visit the Newsroom website for the program announcement.

All funding has been awarded. There are 358 projects representing approximately 1,246 housing units that are being retrofitted under this program.

Housing providers receiving funding must report prior energy use before carrying out retrofits, as well as three years of post-retrofit energy usage.

smart Green, Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG)

Delivered through the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), smart Green provides up to $500,000 of matching funding to small and medium sized manufacturers to enable them to implement upgrades to their processes and/or buildings that reduce their GHG emissions and energy costs. Visit CME’s website for more information about smart Green.

Under this program, applicants must include a detailed assessment of the GHG reductions they will achieve. The assessment must identify potential GHG reduction/energy efficiency projects via a third-party walk-through.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include productivity increases and production cost reductions which have the potential to make businesses more competitive; the creation of manufacturing jobs and increased demand for related supplies and service; increased demand for cleantech solutions; and behavioural change among small and medium sized businesses.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $875,000,000 - $1,100,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Industry and Business

Progress

Commitment: $25,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This program was launched in February 2016. Visit the Newsroom website to see the program announcement.

The program opened for applications on October 31, 2016, and is scheduled to run until the end of 2018-19. To date, CME has committed $10 million of smart Green funding toward 37 projects and 85 assessments. CME is currently reviewing 42 project assessment applications.

An additional 94 applicants have begun profiles on the smart Green website, which is the first stage of applying to the program.

Home Energy Audit and Retrofits, Ministry of Energy (energy)

Ontario has invested $100 million to help homeowners reduce energy bills while cutting GHG emissions.

This funding will enhance the existing home energy audit and retrofit programs offered by Enbridge Gas Distribution and Union Gas and expand eligibility to homeowners who heat their homes with oil, propane or wood.

Funded actions include replacing furnaces and water heaters and upgrading insulation.

These programs are being delivered in partnership with Enbridge Gas Distribution and Union Gas.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include energy conservation, reduced fuel demand and homeowner costs.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: N/A

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area Buildings and Homes

Progress

Commitment: $100,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This province-wide program was announced in February 2016. Visit the Newsroom website to see the program announcement. It was launched to homeowners on October 31, 2016.

As of December 31, 2017, Union and Enbridge have finalised 14,809 home audits and retrofits.

Additional homes are currently undergoing retrofits and will be counted once the final audit and related GHG savings are available.

The investment will help about 37,000 homeowners across the province conduct audits and complete energy-saving retrofits.

For more information about this program, visit the Home Energy Conservation Incentive Program website.

Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario, Ministry of Transportation (MTO)

The Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) is a competitive grant funding initiative that is working with 24 public and private sector partners to create a network of public charging electric vehicle stations across Ontario.

The ministry is working with partners to achieve the goal of having a network of electric vehicle charging stations across the province.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include job creation through the installation and maintenance of charging equipment.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $80,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 2.5.1 Transportation

Progress

Commitment: $19,800,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This program was launched in December 2015. Visit the Ontario Newsroom website to see the program announcement.

The EVCO program has funded the installation of over 300 charging stations so far, including nearly 140 Level 3 (fast) chargers with more coming online weekly. Ontario is already the leading jurisdiction in Canada for level 3 chargers.

For a map of the existing EV charging network, visit the MTO website.

Ontario Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Resources, MIRR

Ontario Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR) will build community technical capacity for climate change mitigation and adaptation in partnership with the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC).
Visit OCCIAR’s and OFNTSC’s websites for more information about the organizations.

The partnership will establish climate change pilot projects that engage, train, and provide resources to Tribal Councils and their communities, as well as to some unaffiliated and large First Nation communities.

Through ongoing collaboration, Ontario will continue to work with Indigenous communities towards transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

This initiative is expected to increase collaboration and capacity building through increased engagement, pilot projects and training.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $85,000,000 - $96,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1 Collaboration with Indigenous Communities

Progress

Commitment: $3,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

This initiative was launched in March 2016. Visit the Ontario Newsroom website to see the program announcement.

For the Climate Change Impact Study for the North, Agreements are in place with:

• Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) – represents 44 Northern Ontario First Nations.
• Mushkegowuk Tribal Council – represents 7 communities.
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) Northern Chiefs Council – represents 6 communities.
• Matawa Tribal Council – represents 9 communities.
• Nokiiwin Tribal Council – represents 6 communities.

Adaptation planning is currently underway with:

• Georgina Island First Nation
• Beausoleil First Nation
• Alderville First Nation
• Rama First Nation
• Curve Lake First Nation
• Six Nations Council
• Wahnapitae First Nation
• Wikwemikong First Nation

Three communities have collected traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), identifying current vulnerabilities.

Energy Planning

• Energy Liaisons hired in ten partner communities.
• OCCIAR has provided guidance to Energy Liaisons on how to understand their existing energy plans, which were developed by consultants.

Over 60 First Nation Communities are establishing awareness to build technical capacity for climate change and adaptation.

Approximately 250 participants attended training workshops for First Nations on climate change conducted by OCCIAR.

Microgrids, energy

This initiative supports a microgrid and energy storage demonstration project. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Gull Bay First Nation (GBFN) are building an advanced renewable microgrid in the GBFN community.

This project will create a community microgrid by integrating new solar photovoltaic generation, battery energy storage, and a microgrid control system with the existing on-site diesel generators that currently supply the community’s entire energy needs. The development, construction and operation of the project will create additional opportunities for capacity building and employment.

GBFN is a community of 300 people on the western shore of Lake Nipigon and is one of the four remote First Nations that the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has determined to be economically unfeasible to connect to the provincial electricity grid at this time.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

Additional benefits of this initiative include job creation (7 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and 1 permanent FTE during operations), increased awareness of community microgrid technology, capacity building and environmental benefits.

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $85,000,000 - $96,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1 Collaboration with Indigenous Communities

Progress

Commitment: $2,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The project is expected to initially deliver approximately 400 MWh per year of energy to the Gull Bay community microgrid, displacing an equivalent amount of diesel-fuelled generation and the associated GHG emissions.

The project is currently under development. Agreements between OPG and all project collaborators are nearing finalization. The request for proposals (RFP) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract has been issued and the RFP for the battery component will be issued soon. On-site geotechnical work has been completed. Project construction is expected to start in the spring of 2018 and the project is tracking for late 2018 completion.

TargetGHG, Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS)

In 2016, a $74 million TargetGHG program was established.

TargetGHG’s goal is to bring together large industry, small and medium-sized enterprises in the clean tech sector, and research consortia. The program is delivered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). Visit OCE’s website for more information about OCE and the TargetGHG initiative.

TargetGHG funds three streams of projects:

1. Industrial Innovation Demonstration helps industrial large emitters demonstrate GHG emission reductions with the support of innovative companies. For more information about this Stream, visit the Industrial Demonstration Program website.

2. Stream 2: is comprised of two programs:

   1. The Collaborative Technology Development Program that supports Ontario-based small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to develop innovative technologies that have the potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions, and
   2. The Collaborative R&D Program that supports industry-academic collaborative research and development projects that will address Ontario’s GHG emission reduction targets and create economic benefits.

   For more information about these programs, visit the Targeting Collaborative Technology Development Program and R&D Program websites.

3. Carbon XPrize awards up to $2.5 million to Ontario-based teams competing in the “nrg cosia Carbon xprize”, a global challenge to address climate change by incentivizing innovators to convert carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities into valuable everyday products. Visit the nrg cosia Carbon xprize website for more information on the challenge. This stream also funds contestants in the Ontario’s Solutions 2030 Challenge which is a competition to identify and accelerate the development of technologies that will help meet Ontario’s 2030 emissions targets. Visit the Solutions 2030 Challenge website for more information.

In 2017, an additional $11.72 million was provided to the program to provide additional support for four Industrial Innovation Demonstration initiatives. More information about these projects can be found in section 3.1: Funded CCAP Initiatives.

Minister’s Evaluation

Additional Benefits of Initiative:

The additional benefits of this initiative include the creation of new jobs, productivity, training, environmental benefits (clean air, water, and soil) and health benefits.

Additional funding is being provided by project participants and is leveraging funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

CCAP ‘Intended 5 Year Funding Range’: $875,000,000 - $1,100,000,000

CCAP Alignment: CCAP Action Area 1.1 Industry and Business

Progress

Commitment: $74,000,000

Progress / Outcomes to Date:

The successful Recipients to this program were announced in December 2017. Visit the Ontario Newsroom website for a complete list of Recipients.

• Industrial Innovation Demonstration: 29 Expressions of Interest (EOI) were received. 11 applications have been approved and contracts negotiated.
• Collaborative Research and Development: 9 EOIs have been received. 5 applications have been approved.
• Collaborative Technology Development: In partnership with SDTC, three projects are being supported.
• X-Prize: Registration for the XPrize has been completed. Once program details are released, Ontario-based teams will apply directly to OCE.
• Solutions 2030: This initiative was launched in April 2017 and applications are under review.

3.3: CCAP Policy Initiatives (no funding requested)

Transportation: Increase the Use of Electric Vehicles, MMA

Ontario will establish requirements for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in new multi-unit condominiums and apartment buildings.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

In Progress. MMA launched its public consultation on the next edition of the Building Code in July 2017, and accepted public input on proposed changes until September 29, 2017.

The consultation document and proposed Building Code changes include provisions to reduce GHG emissions in the building sector in support of the government’s CCAP. The document includes EV charging equipment in multi-unit residential buildings.

MMA has established a working group to discuss building code requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure including in multi-unit residential buildings.

Transportation: Electric-vehicle-ready workplaces, MMA

Ontario will establish a requirement that, as of 2018, all newly built commercial office buildings and appropriate workplaces must provide EV charging infrastructure.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

Complete. The government recently approved interim amendments to the 2012 Building Code. The new requirements support CCAP commitments through new requirements for the installation of EV charging in workplaces. For more information, please visit the MMA and MHO website.

Ontario now requires that, as of 2018, all newly built commercial office buildings and appropriate workplaces with parking in the building provide 20% of parking spaces with EV charging and 80% of spaces with “rough-ins”.

The workplace is the second most common place to charge EVs after the home. Workplace charging is particularly critical to people living in multi-unit residential buildings who may not have access to a home-based plug.

Transportation: Electric-vehicle-ready homes, MMA

Ontario will require all new homes and townhomes with garages to be constructed with a 50-amp, 240-volt receptacle (plug) in the garage for the purpose of charging an EV.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

Complete. Recently-approved interim amendments to the 2012 Building Code mean that Ontario now requires, as of 2018, that all new houses with on-site parking be equipped with a conduit to facilitate future installation of EV charging equipment and a 200 amp electrical panel to support capacity for EV charging. For more information, visit the Ontario Newsroom website.

Transportation: Government greening of fleet, MTO

Ontario will buy or lease green-plate-eligible passenger vehicles for the OPS fleet wherever possible.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

Environmental considerations continue to factor into the management and acquisition of new passenger vehicles purchased or leased for the provincial fleet, including the use of alternative fuels, hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric and, zero emission vehicles where feasible.

Through CCAP, the government committed to purchase EVs for its own fleet whenever possible. In the summer of 2017, the government placed five Chevrolet Bolt EVs into service.

Transportation: Permanent Green Plate Program, MTO

The Green Licence Plate Program will continue until 25% of passenger vehicles have green plates.

Green licence plates identify EV drivers’ commitment to a cleaner Ontario. The program also provides EVs with free access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, no matter how many people are in the vehicle.

The program will be reviewed after 10 years. Green plate vehicles will have free access to the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that are currently being rolled out in Ontario.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

The Green Licence Plate Program was made permanent as of July 1, 2016. Vehicles with green plates have no-cost, single-occupant access to provincial HOV and HOT lanes.

Over 14,000 EVs with Green Vehicle license plates were registered in Ontario as of December 4, 2017.

There are over 17,500 EVs in Ontario; most of the remainder have regular passenger plates or customized plates.

Transportation: Boost renewable content, MOECC

Ontario is amending its existing renewable fuel regulations to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector, a commitment under the CCAP.

The amendments would require fossil fuel suppliers to reduce GHG emissions by 2020 by blending more ethanol, a lower-carbon fuel, in gasoline and encouraging the development and use of advanced renewable fuel technology.

Ontario recognizes the important role the federal government will play in setting clean fuel requirements at the national level. We are working collaboratively with the federal government and other jurisdictions such as British Columbia to coordinate renewable fuels programs where possible.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

The regulatory proposal for Low Carbon Transportation Fuels was posted to the Environmental Registry on November 29, 2017 for a 55-day comment period, ending January 23, 2018. This proposal can be found on the Environmental Registry website.

Ontario is proposing to amend the Ethanol in Gasoline and the Greener Diesel regulations to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector.

The proposal includes raising the ethanol blending requirement to 10% by 2020 in combination with a lifecycle GHG performance requirement under the Ethanol in Gasoline Regulation, and incenting emerging technologies under both the ethanol and greener diesel regulations.

This proposal builds on a Discussion Paper on a proposed Renewable Fuel Standard for gasoline in Ontario which was posted on the Environmental Registry from January 11 to March 12, 2017. The proposal can be found on the Environmental Registry website.

Land Use Planning: Growth Plan Policies to Enhance Climate Change Considerations, MMA

This initiative intends to enhance climate change considerations on the proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the Regional Transportation Plan to enhance climate change considerations.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

Complete. The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe was reviewed as part of a co-ordinated land use planning review, alongside the Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The updated Plans were announced in May 2017 and came into effect on July 1, 2017 with the exception of the Niagara Escarpment Plan which took effect on June 1, 2017. For more information about the Co-ordinated Land Use Review visit the MMA and MHO website. To read the News Release about the land use plans, visit the Ontario Newsroom website.

The Growth Plan 2017 now requires climate change policies in municipal official plans, and provides further direction on how to plan for more complete communities – including how growth should be allocated to support transit and active transportation, and increasing intensification and density targets, particularly around transit stations.

For more information about the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017, visit the MMA website.

Land Use Planning: Walking and Walkable Communities, MMA

This initiative will provide information and guidance to all municipalities on the benefits of walking and creating walkable communities; encourage municipalities to build cycling infrastructure and larger sidewalks to promote cycling and walking; and, collaborate with real estate associations and builders to highlight the desirability of walkable communities.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

In Progress. The Growth Plan’s strong direction to support walkable and transit-supportive communities will further reduce urban sprawl and support the creation of compact, low-carbon communities that connect to transit and emit fewer GHGs.

Communities will be built with the densities necessary to sustain transit investments and to support more vibrant, physically active lifestyles.

The Growth Plan, 2017 emphasizes the importance of active transportation in creating complete communities and requires municipalities to integrate walking and cycling opportunities into their transportation planning to provide safe, comfortable travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users of active transportation and to provide continuous linkages between strategic growth areas, adjacent neighbourhoods, major trip generators, and transit stations.

The Growth Plan, 2017 directs municipalities to consider new public service facilities, including hospitals and schools, to be located in settlement areas and preference should be given to sites that are easily accessible by active transportation and transit, where that service is available.

The Ontario Places to Grow Implementation Fund supports projects that promote and help achieve the policies of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe by encouraging the development of complete communities that support walkable neighbourhoods and active transportation.

In 2016-17, an Active Travel Toolkit was developed by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) to help doctors and other health professionals better understand the links between complete communities, active transportation and better health outcomes. For more information about the Active Travel Toolkit, visit the CAPE website.

The fund has also supported the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) to conduct research and identify best practices in the development of active transportation throughout Ontario. This has resulted in two publications including Complete Streets Transformations and Active Transportation Planning Beyond the Greenbelt that have been widely shared with municipalities, stakeholders and the general public. For more information about TCAT, or to read the two publications mentioned, visit the TCAT website.

Currently, the fund is supporting work by the University of Waterloo to explore how to improve walkability in Urban Growth Centres in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The research findings will be shared among Ontario planners and other practitioners through workshops, publications and social media.

Land Use Planning: Eliminate Minimum Parking Requirements, MMA

Minimum parking requirements will be eliminated over the next five years for municipal zoning by-laws, especially in transit corridors and other high-density, highly walkable communities.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

In Progress. The Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016 received Royal Assent on December 8, 2016, and amended the Planning Act to provide the Minister of Municipal Affairs with authority to pass regulations in relation to municipal loading or parking zoning requirements, including specifying minimum parking requirements or eliminating minimum parking requirement for specified lands, buildings or structures. For more information, visit the e-Laws website.

Land Use Planning: Make Climate Change a Planning Priority, MMA

The government will consult and propose amendments to Ontario’s Planning Act to make climate change a provincial interest, which would ensure climate change is taken into consideration when planning decisions are made.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

Complete. The Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act, 2016 was enacted on May 30, 2017. It amended the Planning Act to include “the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to a changing climate” as a matter of provincial interest. This means that all decisions under the Planning Act, including decisions on matters that end up before the appeal tribunal shall have regard to this provision. For more information about Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act, visit the e-Laws website. To read the program announcement, visit the Ontario Newsroom.

Land Use Planning: Put Climate Change in Official Plans, MMA

The government will consult and propose amendments to the Planning Act to make climate change mitigation and adaptation mandatory in municipal official plans.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

In Progress. The Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 was enacted on December 12, 2017. It amended the Planning Act, and when proclaimed, will require that all municipal official plans shall contain climate change policies that identify goals, objectives and actions to mitigate GHG emissions and to provide for adaption to a changing climate, including through increasing resiliency. For more information about the Act, visit the Ontario Newsroom website.

MOECC is currently working with partner ministries to develop a community emission reduction planning guide which will inform the development of climate change policies in municipal official plans.

Land Use Planning: Set Lower-Carbon Standards for New Buildings - Legislative Amendments for Municipalities to Require Green Standards, MMA

The Municipal Act, 2001, the City of Toronto Act (COTA), 2006, and the Building Code Act were amended (May 30, 2017).

The changes to the Building Code Act authorize regulations relating to new section 97.1 of the Municipal Act and new section 108.1 of the COTA.

Subsequent, proposed amendments to the Building Code (regulation) could allow municipalities to pass by-laws requiring green standards such as for energy efficiency. Such by-laws could be adopted only where there are technical standards in the Building Code and if those standards are specifically identified for this purpose in the Building Code.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

In Progress. The MMA launched its public consultation on the next edition of the Building Code in July 2017, and accepted input on proposed changes to Ontario’s Building Code until September 29, 2017.

The consultation includes provisions related to Green Standards, which are standards or technologies to reduce building emissions where relevant technical standards exist in the Building Code but are not mandatory.

Comments submitted by stakeholders during the public consultation process are under review and will be taken into account as proposed changes for next edition of the Building Code are finalised.

For more information, visit the Ontario Newsroom website.

Green Button, energy

The Green Button initiative allows Ontarians to access and share electricity data in a standardized, secure manner.

Green Button also allows households and businesses to automate the secure transfer of their own data from their utilities to applications of their choice, which can help them manage and conserve energy and water.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

In Progress. The Ministry of Energy is currently developing a proposal for implementing Green Button province-wide, and pending government approval, will post this to the Environmental Bill of Rights and Regulatory Registry for public comment.

In addition, the Ministry is working to adapt the Green Button Standard for natural gas and water utilities, and to update existing guidance documents for Ontario’s electricity utilities.

For more information, please visit the Green Button and the North American Energy Standards Board websites.

Efficiency Standards for Equipment in Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) and Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTP), energy

Update energy efficiency standards for key energy-using products and equipment found in water treatment plants (DWTPs and WWTPs), based on the volume of water processed by the facility.

Municipal water and waste-water services typically account for one third to one-half of a municipality’s total electrical use.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

energy’s approach is to set and update energy efficiency standards for equipment found in DWTPs and WWTPs through amendments to Ontario Regulation 404/12 Energy and Water Efficiency – Appliances and Products (O. Reg. 404/12).

From July 2016 to July 2017, O. Reg. 404/12 was updated with new energy efficiency standards for commercial/industrial clean water pumps and electric motors. For more information about the regulation, visit the e-Laws website.

energy initiated a study in Fall 2017 to further explore opportunities to increase and maximize efficiency standards for key equipment in DWTPs and WWTPs.

This will inform potential future energy efficiency regulation updates that would contribute to reducing electricity use in these high energy-consuming facilities.

Buildings and Homes: Protecting Tenants from Higher Costs of Cap and Trade, MMA

Ontario will introduce legislative and regulatory changes that reduce the impact on residential tenants of increased energy costs from cap and trade.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

The Rental Fairness Act, 2017 was enacted on May 30, 2017. It removed the ability for landlords to apply for above-guideline rent increases for extraordinary increases in utility costs. This amendment came into force upon proclamation on January 1, 2018. Before proclamation, the government made an interim regulatory amendment that requires landlords to remove carbon costs from calculations for above-guideline rent increases for utilities, specifically for heat provided by natural gas. The regulatory change came into effect on April 24, 2017. For more information, visit the Ontario Newsroom website.

Forest Carbon Policy, MNRF

This initiative will examine the role of managed Crown forests in climate change mitigation and consider development of forest carbon policy to support government climate change efforts.

MNRF will provide support, expertise and input to MOECC as they adapt forest carbon offset protocols for use in Ontario.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

MNRF completed the discussion paper titled 'Ontario’s Crown Forests: Opportunities to Enhance Carbon Storage? A Discussion Paper'. It was posted to the Environmental Registry from November 2016 to January 2017. Face-to-face public information sessions and webinars were held. For a copy of the discussion paper, visit the Environmental Registry website.

In Fall 2017, a Science and Indigenous Forest Climate Forum was held.

For more information on forests and climate change, visit the Government of Ontario website.

Far North Land Use Strategy, MNRF

MNRF will release a Far North Land Use Strategy (Strategy) that supports community based land use planning and provides guidance to consider climate change impacts.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

The draft Strategy was posted on the Environmental Registry in September 2015. To read a copy, visit the Environmental Registry website. For more information about the Far North Land Use Strategy, visit the Government of Ontario website.

Grasslands Stewardship Initiative, MNRF

MNRF will create, enhance and maintain 30,000 hectares of grasslands in Ontario by 2036 through promoting and supporting grassland stewardship activities for Bobolink and Esastern Meadowlark, including activities that contribute to carbon sequestration and off-setting.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

The Bobolink Government Response statement was released in December 2015 announcing the government’s commitment to establish this initiative. To read the statement, visit the Government of Ontario website.

Implementation of this initiative is under development including: guidelines, data and monitoring requirements.

Forests Ontario (FO) has been chosen as the oversight organization for the initiative. MNRF is working with FO on program design elements to launch the initiative in summer of 2018.

Low Carbon Procurement, TBS

The OPS Procurement Directive will be reviewed to enable low-carbon procurement, considering the full lifecycle of products.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

Released in 2017, Ontario’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan (LTIP) outlines the government’s proposed phased approach to introduce life-cycle analysis (LCA) into the province’s infrastructure planning and procurement processes. This approach includes:

• Continuing to consult with technical experts for advice on the implementation of LCA.
• Identifying potential infrastructure projects to demonstrate the LCA approach, which may involve including LCA in the procurement of some large, complex projects in 2018.
• Providing tools and guidelines for life-cycle environmental considerations to be incorporated into ministries’ business cases for infrastructure investments in 2018.

The LTIP also indicates that the Province plans to roll out LCA broadly as a tool to support evidence-based infrastructure decisions, and will work towards having a LCA for major infrastructure projects by mid-2020.

The LTIP also pledges that the government will consider the use of other assessment tools to support climate conscious decision-making, specifically the application of a social cost of carbon (SCC) calculation.

A review of the OPS Procurement Directive is in progress. For more information about the LTIP, visit the Government of Ontario website.

Update Environmental Assessments to Account for Climate Change, MOECC

MOECC will address climate change in environmental assessments: Finalize a draft environmental assessment guide entitled Consideration of Climate Change in Environmental Assessment in Ontario for projects and undertakings under the Environmental Assessment Act.

Progress / Outcomes to Date

On December 14, 2017, the Ministry posted a decision on the Environmental Registry with regard to the 'Guide: Consideration of Climate Change in Environmental Assessment in Ontario' which is now in effect.

This guide describes various approaches for considering to the treatment of climate change in environmental assessment processes and studies, including:

• How the project contributes to climate change (i.e. GHG emissions), and
• How the project may be impacted by climate change (i.e. potential for damage from extreme weather events).

The guide supports proponents in determining appropriate mitigation measures (i.e. to reduce GHG emissions), and adaptation measures to ensure that projects, when built, are prepared for future changes to the climate.

To read the decision, visit the Environmental Registry website.

To read the guide, visit the Government of Ontario website.

Appendix A – Ontario Historical Emissions and Emission Forecasts

Historical Ontario GHG Emissions

• Based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2017 National Inventory Report (NIR), Ontario’s 2014 emissions were 168.5 Mt, which is 7.1% below 1990 levels, indicating that Ontario has met and surpassed its 2014 target of 6% below 1990 levels.

• Ontario’s 2015 GHG emissions were 166.2 megatonnes (Mt), which is 8.3% below 1990 levels of 181.3 Mt.

  • Figure 2 below illustrates that 33% of the total 2015 GHG emissions were from transportation, 29% from industry, 22% from buildings, 3% from electricity generation, 8% from agriculture (including on-farm fuel use), and, 5% from waste.

  Figure 2: Ontario 2015 GHG Emissions by Sector

  
  Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2017) National Inventory Report 1990-2015: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

• Ontario’s historical emissions grew from 181.3 Mt in 1990 to 208.5 Mt in 2000 (highest point), then stabilized in mid-2000 and decreased in recent years. Phasing out coal-fired electricity generation, energy efficiency improvements and related initiatives contributed to these emission declines.

• Figure 3 below shows historical emission trends. Ontario’s 2015 emissions were:

  • 42 Mt (or 20.3%) below the “high water mark” emission level in the year 2000
  • 15 Mt (or 8.3%) below 1990 levels

  Figure 3: Historical Emissions Trends in Ontario

  
  Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2017) National Inventory Report 1990-2015: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

Provincial Comparison

• At approximately 166.2 Mt CO₂e, Ontario’s emissions represented 23% of Canada’s emissions in 2015.

  Figure 4: Canada’s Provincial and Territorial Emissions in 2015

  

• Ontario’s per capita emissions were 12.05 tonnes per capita in 2015. Since 1990, Ontario’s per capita emission have decreased by 32%. Ontario ranks third lowest among provinces in terms of emissions per capita. Only Quebec (9.71 tonnes per capita) and Prince Edward Island (12.03 tonnes per capita) were lower.
• Both the emission intensity of Ontario’s economy — measured as emissions per unit of GDP — and per capita emissions are among the lowest in Canada (See Table 1a below).

Sources: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2017) National Inventory Report 1990-2015: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada; Statistics Canada cansim Tables 051-0001 and 384-0038

Ontario GHG Emission Projections and Progress to Target

• Figure 5 below shows:

  • Ontario’s Reference Case (Baseline) emission projections in the absence of cap and trade and CCAP initiatives
  • Ontario’s projected emissions that account for the effects of cap and trade but do not account for CCAP policies (Abatement from Cap and Trade Pricing)
  • Ontario’s projected emissions that account for the effects of cap and trade and CCAP policies [Policy Case (2017-18 initiated CCAP) programs and Extended Policy Case (re-investment of post-2021 auction proceeds)]
  • Ontario’s 2014, 2020 and 2030 legislated emission targets of 6%,15% and 37% below 1990 emission levels, as established under the CCMLEA. Based on the 2017 National Inventory Report, the 2014 target is estimated to be 170.4 Mt, the 2020 target is estimated to be 154.1 Mt, and the 2030 target is estimated to be 114.2 Mt^{footnote 6[6]}.

  Figure 5: Ontario Emission Projections Including Climate Change Action Plan Initiatives

  
  Source: MOECC/Navius Research Inc. and CCAP Greenhouse Gas Reduction Estimation (MOECC)
  *CCAP emission reduction forecasts associated with 2017/18 initiated programs assumes they will receive their full funding request for the duration of CCAP (until2020/2021).
  **GHG emission reductions associated with post 2017/18 initiated CCAP programs assumes both reductions from CCAP programs that will be initiated from 2018 to 2020, and from reductions associated with renewed CCAP investments extending beyond 2020/2021 (see assumptions below).
  Note: CCAP emission reduction forecasts do not include new GHG reductions associated with ‘enabling’ initiatives nor with the anticipated reductions in the electricity sector outlined in the 2016 CCAP.

• Ontario’s emissions are expected to be 164 Mt in 2020 and 163 Mt in 2030 in the absence of cap and trade and CCAP policies. The domestic emission reductions as a result of cap and trade pricing are estimated to be 2.8 Mt in 2020 and 18.2 Mt in 2030. Annual emission reductions from 2017/18 CCAP initiated programs are estimated to be 2.5 Mt in 2020 and 2.7 Mt in 2030. Annual GHG reductions associated with CCAP programs initiated post 2017/18 are expected to be 0.4 Mt in 2020 and 7.4 Mt in 2030 (see assumptions below). Offsets, Western Climate Initiative (WCI) allowance purchases, and emission reductions resulting from policy changes are expected to be approximately 4.6 Mt in 2020, and 20.2 Mt in 2030.

Modelling Approach (Reference Case and Abatement from Cap and Trade Pricing)

• MOECC used a computable general equilibrium model developed by Navius Research Inc. to forecast emissions. The model contains representation of economic sectors and is calibrated to the 2017 National Inventory Report emissions (historical emission estimates from 1990 to 2015), 2016 Independent Electricity System Operator’s Ontario Planning Outlook, long-term energy prices from the 2016 U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook, and GDP forecast calibrated to Ontario Ministry of Finance GDP forecast.

CCAP Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Estimation

• The CCAP GHG emission reductions presented are the aggregate of all individual 2017/18 initiated CCAP program GHG estimates. The estimates assume the 2017/18 initiatives receive their full funding request for the duration of CCAP (2017/18 to 2020/21).
• CCAP GHG estimates make use of conservative assumptions and procedures to ensure GHG emission reductions resulting from initiatives are not overestimated. This includes conservative estimates of activity levels and the useful life of technologies.
• GHG emission estimates will differ from estimates published in the June 2016 CCAP. GHG estimates at that time were based on forecasts of program design and implementation. 2017/18 CCAP funding recipients were required to update GHG emission reduction estimates based on actual program design.
• Prior to making funding decisions, all GHG estimates were validated through a GHG quality assurance review process by MOECC. This ensured appropriate GHG estimation principles were followed, methodological approaches were reasonable and that all project emission sources and sinks were identified. To support this process, a guidance document aligning with principles and concepts from ISO 14064 Part 2 was shared with interested stakeholders with a webinar presenting application of concepts. Principles outlined in the guidance document include the principles of: accuracy, additionality, completeness, conservativeness, consistency, relevance and transparency.
• CCAP estimates are completed on a project by project basis. MOECC is working to continue to improve methodologies for GHG estimation. For example, GHG savings are influenced by assumptions of the useful life of technologies. Technological improvement in the next 10 years may encourage businesses or homeowners to switch technologies before the end of useful life. Alternatively, improvements to energy efficiency in buildings or industry outside of CCAP investments may reduce the projected GHG reductions that CCAP investments will yield. While assumptions for many of the initiatives attempted to capture these effects, this type of interaction is difficult to estimate in all sectors. These impacts are expected to be small in the near term and can be minimized by taking a conservative approach to project-based GHG estimation.
• The GHG emissions associated with an estimated $490 million commitment to enabling initiatives initiated in 2017/18, and with funding assumed out to 2020/21, are excluded from the CCAP GHG reduction projection. This provides a further source of conservativeness to the CCAP GHG emission reduction forecasts. While enabling initiatives are expected to contribute future GHG reductions, inherent uncertainties surrounding outcomes from research, innovation, accelerators, clean technologies, proof-of-concept, or application-based projects result in high levels of unpredictability. This limits the ability to estimate GHG reductions within a reasonable level of certainty. For this reason, enabling initiatives do not have accompanying GHG reduction estimates. As funds are deployed to innovators, further data and evidence may be requested by MOECC to support quantification of GHG reductions associated with these enabling initiatives.

Emissions Reductions Associated with Post 2017/18 Inititated CCAP Programs

• CCAP programs to be initiated from 2018 to 2020 are currently under development. To forecast emission reductions associated with these programs, it was assumed they would achieve an equivalent average cost per tonne to that currently achieved by 2017/18 initiated CCAP programs.
• The CCAP is a four year commitment, ending in 2021. GHG emission reductions in Ontario stemming from reinvestment of post 2021 cap and trade auction proceeds are projected by assuming future CCAP programs will provide equivalent GHG reductions to those estimated under the current CCAP. This is intended to illustrate that achieving GHG targets will require continued effort and reinvestment of cap and trade proceeds.

Sector-based GHG Reductions

• The pie charts below allow for comparison of the proportion of 2015 GHG emissions emitted from each sector in Ontario (National Inventory Report, 2017) with projected CCAP investment in 2017/18 initiated programs, and the associated CCAP GHG reductions forecasted in 2020 by CCAP sectors.
• Emission reductions associated with CCAP Municipal and Indigenous Partnerships initiatives will contribute emission reductions across all sectors, producing the greatest reductions in the waste sector and buildings sector.

Figure 6: Proportion of 2015 Ontario GHG Emissions per Sector

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (2017) National Inventory Report 1990-2015: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

Figure 7: Proportion of 2017/18 Initiated CCAP Project Funding per Sector

Source: MOECC

Figure 8: Projected Proportion of 2020 CCAP GHG Reductions per Sector

Source: MOECC

• Figure 9 below illustrates the sector-based cost per tonne curve, providing a visual representation of financial and GHG related metrics for CCAP programs initiated in 2017/18. The cost per tonne is used as a financial metric derived by taking the total projected investment in each sector and dividing by the total estimated lifetime GHG reductions of the initiatives in that sector, assuming they receive their full funding request out to 2021. It is important to note that the costs per tonne listed below will appear higher than published abatement costs as the investment does not account for future cost savings; for example, discounting all future energy cost savings.
• The cost per tonne of each sector is plotted along the y-axis and illustrated by the height of each individual bar. The width of the chart illustrates the lifetime GHG reduction potential of all 2017/18 initiated CCAP programs which amounts to approximately 60.5 Mt of CO₂e by 2050. The contribution of each individual sector to this total GHG reduction estimate is illustrated by the width of each individual sector bar. The sectors below are arranged from the least costly per tonne on the left, through to the most costly, allowing a visual understanding of the total cumulative GHG reductions possible under various cost per tonne thresholds. For example, from the chart below approximately 55 Mt of GHG reductions are possible at a cost of $100 per tonne or less (not including the associated cost savings).

Figure 9: Lifetime GHG Reductions and Cost per Tonne by Sector for 2017/18 Initiated CCAP Programs