Canada launches new Indigenous climate action fund

The Canadian government has launched a new program that will dole out up to $180 million to support Indigenous-owned and led renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon heating projects.

The Indigenous Leadership Fund was developed in collaboration with First Nations representatives, Inuit organizations, and Métis governments, Environment and Climate Change Canada said in a news release.

Up to $73.9 million will be available for First Nations-led projects through a continuous intake process that will be open until March 31, 2027. The Métis and Inuit funding will use a directed intake process, beginning this year and delivered over six years.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced the new fund last week, along with Greg Gauchier, chairman of the Peavine Metis Settlement in Alberta that plans to install a solar system, and Jeff Thrasher, general manager of Evergreen BioHeat, representing the Tl’etinqox Community Bioheat Project in B.C.

Tl’etinqox received $1.8 million to install a biomass heating system for eight community buildings, a church, and a healing centre within the community.

“The Tl’etinqox Community Bioheat Project will reduce CO2 emissions by over 114 tonnes per year by replacing propane with biomass fuel,” Thrasher said in the news release. “In addition, the Tl’etinqox Government will benefit from substantially reduced annual energy operating costs and additional economic benefits for the community and its forestry initiatives in the long term. The project will also deliver dramatically lower heating costs for Tl’etinqox School, which will have a positive impact on the school’s budget and operations.”