Trudeau promises to invest in green technology
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised to invest $200 million each year for an initiative he says would support the development of clean technology and create jobs during a campaign stop in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday.
The money would be to used to create sector-specific strategies to support innovation and clean technologies in key sectors, including mining, energy, forestry, fisheries, and agriculture.
Trudeau was in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday afternoon, where he toured Heliene Inc. before taking questions from reporters.
“By denying climate change, (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper has denied us the opportunity to strengthen our economy, to take advantage of the ingenuity, and take the lead in the race to create more new, high-tech clean jobs like right here at Heliene,” Trudeau said.
“What’s encouraging is that despite the lack of leadership from Mr. Harper, Canadians have filled that leadership gap and pressed forward to think of new, better ways to develop our natural resources.
Sault Ste. Marie is a great example of that. It isn't called the alternative energy capital of North America for nothing.”
Trudeau was joined by Sault Ste. Marie Liberal candidate Terry Sheehan and Liberal MPP David Orazietti while touring the solar panel manufacturer before speaking with the media.
This proposal would help support clean technology producers such as Heliene Inc. “so they can help tackle Canada's most pressing environmental challenges,” Trudeau said.
“Heliene exemplifies the kind of innovative clean technology and entrepreneurship that Canada needs to create the sustainable prosperity middle class Canadians deserve,” he said.
He also said a Liberal government would work with the provinces and post-secondary education institutions to support emerging clean technologies and to help with the commercialization of new green products.
While the natural resource sector will always be an essential part of the Canadian economy, Trudeau said he recognized the need to diversify, and that this clean energy initiative would help do just that.
“We do need to diversify our economy, and places like the Sault and Northern Ontario represent a great opportunity to do that,” he said.
“We believe in diversification, but unlike Mr. Harper who put all his eggs in the same basket of high oil prices, we understand that we need strong sectors across the economy and across the country to make sure that we're firing on all cylinders.”
When asked how a Liberal government would deal with cheap imports from countries such as China and the threat they pose to domestic companies like Heliene Inc., Trudeau said there needs to be a balance between protection for Canadian manufacturers and ensuring that Canadian consumers and corporations can buy the goods and energy that they need at competitive prices.
Getting that balance right would involve “much more active” international engagement on the federal government's part, he said.
Trudeau also said the ACR passenger rail situation highlights how communities in the North have been affected by Conservative cuts to subsidies for passenger rail service, saying it was an example of how communities like Sault Ste. Marie need “strong voices in Ottawa, not just the Prime Minister's voice here in the community.”
“We will always be the Sault's voice in Ottawa, not my voice here in the Sault.”
Earlier Monday, Trudeau made a campaign stop in Sudbury where he made a similar announcement regarding clean technology while touring Laurentian University.
source: Trudeau promises to invest in green technology | Sault Star
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FYI Trudeau...
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised to invest $200 million each year for an initiative he says would support the development of clean technology and create jobs during a campaign stop in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday.
The money would be to used to create sector-specific strategies to support innovation and clean technologies in key sectors, including mining, energy, forestry, fisheries, and agriculture.
Trudeau was in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday afternoon, where he toured Heliene Inc. before taking questions from reporters.
“By denying climate change, (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper has denied us the opportunity to strengthen our economy, to take advantage of the ingenuity, and take the lead in the race to create more new, high-tech clean jobs like right here at Heliene,” Trudeau said.
“What’s encouraging is that despite the lack of leadership from Mr. Harper, Canadians have filled that leadership gap and pressed forward to think of new, better ways to develop our natural resources.
Sault Ste. Marie is a great example of that. It isn't called the alternative energy capital of North America for nothing.”
Trudeau was joined by Sault Ste. Marie Liberal candidate Terry Sheehan and Liberal MPP David Orazietti while touring the solar panel manufacturer before speaking with the media.
This proposal would help support clean technology producers such as Heliene Inc. “so they can help tackle Canada's most pressing environmental challenges,” Trudeau said.
“Heliene exemplifies the kind of innovative clean technology and entrepreneurship that Canada needs to create the sustainable prosperity middle class Canadians deserve,” he said.
He also said a Liberal government would work with the provinces and post-secondary education institutions to support emerging clean technologies and to help with the commercialization of new green products.
While the natural resource sector will always be an essential part of the Canadian economy, Trudeau said he recognized the need to diversify, and that this clean energy initiative would help do just that.
“We do need to diversify our economy, and places like the Sault and Northern Ontario represent a great opportunity to do that,” he said.
“We believe in diversification, but unlike Mr. Harper who put all his eggs in the same basket of high oil prices, we understand that we need strong sectors across the economy and across the country to make sure that we're firing on all cylinders.”
When asked how a Liberal government would deal with cheap imports from countries such as China and the threat they pose to domestic companies like Heliene Inc., Trudeau said there needs to be a balance between protection for Canadian manufacturers and ensuring that Canadian consumers and corporations can buy the goods and energy that they need at competitive prices.
Getting that balance right would involve “much more active” international engagement on the federal government's part, he said.
Trudeau also said the ACR passenger rail situation highlights how communities in the North have been affected by Conservative cuts to subsidies for passenger rail service, saying it was an example of how communities like Sault Ste. Marie need “strong voices in Ottawa, not just the Prime Minister's voice here in the community.”
“We will always be the Sault's voice in Ottawa, not my voice here in the Sault.”
Earlier Monday, Trudeau made a campaign stop in Sudbury where he made a similar announcement regarding clean technology while touring Laurentian University.
source: Trudeau promises to invest in green technology | Sault Star
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FYI Trudeau...
