The federal government is pumping more money into the Yukon with an announcement of a $44.8-million investment to help pay for conversions to cleaner heating systems and other climate-friendly projects.

“Canadians are already well aware that the bill for a changing climate is coming due,” said Terry Duguid, the parliamentary secretary to Steven Guilbeault, the federal minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Duguid was at Porter Creek Secondary School on Tuesday to make the announcement. He spoke alongside Yukon MP Brendan Hanley and Yukon Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn.

This is part of the push to comply with the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 40 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“We know the problem is carbon pollution,” Duguid said, “and the whole world is in a competitive race for solutions.”

This money will be split into two funds. One will provide $8.4 million for energy efficiency upgrades for three Yukon government-owned buildings, while the rest of the money’s specific allocation has yet to be announced.

At least some of the other $36.4 million will be allocated to helping homeowners with energy efficiency upgrades for heating systems.

The goal of the program is to support businesses, Indigenous communities, schools and hospitals, along with cities and towns to achieve emissions reduction goals.

The $8.4 million slated for the government buildings will be used to install energy-efficient heating systems such as cold climate heat pumps to reduce reliance on propane and light fuels for heat.

Work will be done on two buildings in Whitehorse and one in Haines Junction. The specific buildings were not named, but they will be Government of Yukon-owned buildings.

The goal is to begin construction on this project in 2024 and have the work completed by the following year.

It is not yet decided what exactly the other $36.4 million will be spent on because the territory is still going through an application process for the funds.

It was promised at Tuesday’s press conference that about $6 million will go to helping low-income homeowners transition to low-emission heating.

A news release from the federal government accompanying the announcement says this type of upgrade can reduce homeowners’ energy bills by $1,500 to $4,700 per year.

Mostyn said dealing with everything from floods to fires this summer has shown the impacts of a changing climate on the ecosystem.

“This is part of building resiliency,” said Mostyn, who was also representing Environment and Climate Change Minister Nils Clarke at the meeting.

Mostyn also explained that people need to re-frame it as a pollution problem, not just an abstract climate issue.

“What we’re actually talking about is living cleaner with less pollution in our lives,” he said.

It was noted by Mostyn that recent injections of federal funds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions represent a huge commitment to infrastructure investment in the territory.

“I have not seen the level of support we’ve seen here in the territory flowing to us to upgrade and change the infrastructure in the territory, to make it more resilient to climate change, to make it more efficient, to make it cleaner, to make it less polluting,” he said.

Though he could not attend, Clarke did release a statement about the funding.

“Investment in renewable heating systems is an integral part of creating a sustainable future,” his statement reads.

“Projects like these are a great example of what can be accomplished through collaborations.”

In a statement released following the announcement, Duguid also cast the investment as an opportunity.

“Canada’s ongoing transition to a sustainable economy presents us with a substantial opportunity to invest in clean, renewable energy,” his statement says.

“By partnering with provinces and territories across the country, we are creating jobs, growing the economy, and building more resilient communities, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

These plans are in line with other broad initiatives introduced by both the federal and territorial governments in response to climate change.

The territory created the Our Clean Future Plan in 2020 and Canada announced the Emissions Reduction Plan in 2022, both aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Dan Vandal, the federal Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister Responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, will make an announcement this afternoon with Yukon Tourism and Culture Minister John Streicker. It will involve support for Yukon First Nation tourism and culture industries.

Members of the Rural, Northern and Western federal Liberal caucuses will also be in attendance as part of their retreat in Whitehorse.