CaGBC announced its support with the federal government?s plan to invest in a green recovery and tie those investments to climate targets and social justice issues.
CaGBC had three key priorities coming into the 2021 budget: development, building retrofits, and leadership on zero carbon building. The new budget, along with the previously announced programs, demonstrates positive momentum in these critical areas, says the organization.
Last year the organization, along with a core group of industry members, called for a green recovery that would prioritize green building, and asked decision-makers to take this opportunity to re-engineer a Canada that is more inclusive, equitable, and climate-forward.
The 2021 budget  sets out the government?s plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, putting it on a trajectory to net-zero emissions by 2050. The budget prioritizes workforce training programs around high-growth sectors and employer demand. CaGBC suggests that Green building should benefit from this, as government programs like the Canada Infrastructure Bank?s Commercial Building Retrofits Initiative and Infrastructure Canada?s Green and Inclusive Communities increase demand for green building and low-carbon skills.
The budget announced programs to help transition COVID-19 impacted workers, and attract youth, women, Indigenous and racialized workers, particularly:

Helping Workers Transition to New Jobs: $250 million over three year...