indigenous communities clamour for climate dollars to improve life on reserve - solar panel traffic lights

In the Ma'an Lake country of Kerry, Winston Rapatak has a growing list of green ambitions.
As head of economic development in the 170 km northeast of Edmonton, Rapatak hopes to get a second round of energy renovation funding, every two dollars. 4-
This year, a million major repairs to the band's administrative building and arena have been completed.
The first round of funding came from Alberta's Climate Leadership plan, launched in 2015, and most of it came from the province's controversial carbon tax. New triple-
Glass windows, insulation, doors and seals, and a new ice maker in the arena are all games. -
In an interview at the end of February, Lapatak said it changed Ma'an Lake.
Before the upgrade, during the severe winter, one of his colleagues placed a cup of coffee on the table of the band's office to prepare for a meeting.
Then he came back and found a thin layer of ice on it.
"I can prove that I work here in winter clothes and boots, but it's still cold," Rapatak said. He explained how uncomfortable the building used to be.
According to government data, the country has allocated more than $2 billion from carbon taxes and taxes on large emitters.
Since January 2017, 5% of the expenditure on Climate Leadership Programs has gone to indigenous institutions and communities.
The list includes 80 First Nations and M_tis communities. (
Or related agencies)
So far, they have received nearly $42 million in grants.
Although a small portion of total carbon tax expenditure, it is noteworthy that funds for first-country projects are usually under federal jurisdiction.
First nationalities do not levy carbon taxes, although residents do pay carbon taxes when they buy fuel in other communities.
Richard Feihan, Alberta's Minister of Indigenous Relations, said the provincial government was committed to coordinating relations with indigenous communities, which was more important than the debate over jurisdiction.
"It is unhealthy for a province to say,'We will ignore a certain proportion of the population'," he said.
With input from indigenous communities, the provincial government has created seven grants. -
Basic projects, including the Energy Fund-
Efficiency audit, building renovation, green energy training, renewable energy production and solar panel installation. In 2016-
17. In the first year of the project, the Department provided a grant of $3 million as a pilot project.
Feihan said he was overwhelmed by his reaction.
Next year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection will provide $35 million for green projects.
Rising to $50 million in 2018-19;
In response, the Department received $200. -
Applications for grants worth millions of dollars-
Four times the available funds.
First Nation Institutions are competing for applications-
Especially the funds for energy transformation-
Provide urgently needed upgrades-
Caroline Buffalo, an environmental official and policy analyst at the Yellowstone Tribal Council, said the housing and construction conditions in the reserve were poor.
The Council has four members north of Edmonton.
Before a band considers installing solar panels or other forms of renewable energy, she said, the structure of the building must be strong enough to support them.
So far, tribal meetings have received more than $1.
Two million are used for retrofitting, energy auditing and training workers to determine building efficiency and install solar panels.
"The problem with these programs is that they always end. -
Subscribe, "Buffalo said.
"So for all those who complain about carbon taxes, that's the source of funding, and it's not enough.
"The First Nation of Alexandria, located about 40 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, has so far received about $263,000 from the Provincial Climate Plan for the creation of community energy plans and energy audits of buildings.
Marcel Arcand, a community development official, aims to upgrade doors, windows and lighting in public buildings to reduce energy bills and to begin assessing further improvements in community housing.
His goal is to make Alexander a green community, and he will accept whatever money he can find to achieve that goal.
If the carbon tax disappears as some political parties have promised, it will affect the first country, he said.
"But we have a long one. -
Indian countries often joke that we are in recession-proof.
We don't notice the recession as other Canadians do, because living standards are not up to standard, "he added, adding that some older people live in houses without running water or natural gas heating.
Since the start of the National Democratic Party's Climate Leadership program, the federal government has invested one-tenth of the provincial government's energy efficiency in Alberta's First Nations.
In the same three fiscal years from 2016 to 2019, the Federal Reserve spent $4.
According to data provided by Canada's Home Service Company, 20 solar energy and efficient lighting projects in the province have 2 million reserves.
Feehan said the provincial government was negotiating with the federal government on projects such as initiatives to reduce diesel use in northern communities, pointing out measures taken and asking how the federal government planned to contribute.
These projects also contribute to another goal of some indigenous communities. -autonomy.
For example, Lapatak of Lake Ma'an says his country is exploring whether it can concentrate on producing and distributing renewable energy from wind, solar, natural gas and biomass.
"It's not only starting to address our energy sovereignty issues, it's also allowing us to start our own utilities.
"Jfrench@postermedia.
Comegraney of Post Media.