On the eve of a new budget, the Saskatchewan government spent money from the old budget on environmental and climate change initiatives.
The province announced March 21 it would provide $4.64 million to 20 organizations and projects.
Premier Lorne Calvert said the spending addressed immediate concerns raised by people with whom the government met while developing its green strategy. The full strategy and long-term response to climate change will be released later this legislative session.
The strategy will include per capita greenhouse gas emission targets the premier described as aggressive.
Read Also
Forecast leans toward cooling trend
July saw below average temperatures, August came in with near to slightly above average temperatures and September built on this warming trend with well above average temperatures for the month.
In the meantime, the climate change initiatives announced last week include $900,000 for people who meet their own power needs through energy sources such as solar or wind power, $500,000 in rebates to those who install solar water heating systems and $400,000 in rebates to people who replace old toilets with water-efficient low flow models.
Money will also flow to several water protection programs and a mobile air monitoring laboratory will be bought to collect air samples throughout the province.
The largest allocation among the environmental projects is $500,000 for communities to manage invasive alien species and protect species at risk.
Sixteen regional waste management authorities will share $415,000 to implement municipal recycling systems in about 200 smaller communities. As well, $210,000 will be spent to promote organic agriculture and the consumption of Saskatchewan-grown organic food.
“The projects that will receive funding will help us reduce our dependence on coal-fired electricity and conserve our water supplies,” said environment minister John Nilson.
“They will help communities rid themselves of hazardous household wastes.”
Nilson said the upcoming green strategy will strengthen links between economic development, environmental stewardship and social well-being.
Environment critic Nancy Heppner said the money is going to the right kinds of initiatives, but she wondered why it came at the end of a budget year and before an election.
“I do look forward to the promised green plan from the NDP,” she said in the legislature.
“Considering that they’ve had 16 years to prepare it, I’m sure it’s going to be a good read.”
In its 2007-2008 budget announced March 22, the government boosted spending for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and allocated $7.5 million for green initiatives.
