CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Hello everyone.

It’s great to be here with Minister O’Regan for a second week in a row to talk about what we’re doing to make life better and more affordable for Canadians.

Let me also give a big shout-out to Member of Parliament Gudie Hutchings, and everyone from our team – Yvonne and Churence – who are here with us today. Thanks for all the work you do for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and for Canadians.

Anyone who owns a house can tell you that no two homes are the same.

That’s especially true in a country like ours where the weather is very different not just from one coast to another to another, but from one season to the next.

There are communities in Canada where the temperature goes from minus 30 degrees to plus 30 degrees in six months.

That’s why it’s so important to understand how our homes use energy, and how we can make them as energy-efficient as possible.

As a homeowner, you don’t want to have to pay extra money on energy bills because of a leaky window, when you could save that money for school supplies or groceries.

And as a country, every effort counts to keep our air clean and our environment healthy.

We know that these retrofits can sometimes be out of reach, so our government is now making them more affordable for Canadians.

Today, we’re launching the new, $2.6 billion Canada Greener Homes Grant – an investment that will help 700,000 homeowners make their house more comfortable and their bills lower.

For Mike and Jessica who are here with us today, from Pasadena in Newfoundland and Labrador, this grant could allow them to get a heat pump and a new energy-efficient door. And that’s going to help their family save money. In a few moments, they will tell us what saving extra money will mean for them.

Thanks to the new Greener Homes Grant, homeowners all across Canada will be able to receive up to $5,000 to make their homes more energy-efficient.

A drafty window or a poorly insulated attic isn’t just a waste of energy, it’s a waste of money.

If you’re a homeowner, this new grant is going to help you keep the heat inside in the winter and your money in your pocket all year long.

Not only can you save money with this grant, you can also help make a real difference in the fight against climate change.

By working together to lower our emissions, we will reach net-zero by 2050.

With the new Greener Homes Grant, we’re tackling three problems at once. We’re making life more affordable for homeowners, we’re fighting climate change, and we’re creating jobs for the middle class.

Assessing what your home needs is going to require energy auditors. And replacing doors, windows, old furnaces and doing all the necessary renovations is going to require workers like electricians and insulation specialists.

In the coming years, the Greener Homes Grant is expected to create over 110,000 jobs.

This program will mean new opportunities for people in communities of every size and in every part of the country, whether with jobs in the construction and heating and cooling industries, or the energy efficiency sector. Not only that, the Grant will also strengthen our green supply chain here at home.

In other words, this investment will make our communities stronger and cleaner - now and for the future.

A home is a place that grows with the people who live in it. It’s a foundation for raising a family, or for retirement.  

From the colourful saltbox houses in Newfoundland and Labrador, to the Vancouver Specials in B.C., Canadians are proud of their homes. And to keep making them more comfortable, and life more affordable, we’re here to help.

Thank you all.