Hamilton and Burlington need a green plan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that an “ambitious green agenda” will be unveiled in the Sept. 23 throne speech, hinting at the promise of a long awaited green stimulus package to address the dual needs of post-pandemic economic recovery and meeting Canada’s climate action commitments.

Stimulus measures that would directly benefit small businesses must be a cornerstone of any package.

As stores, offices and restaurants have slowly come back to life in Hamilton and Burlington over the last few months, it’s clear that these small businesses are still far from recovered.

Government support for our local small businesses to implement green retrofits would result in a quadruple win; reducing operating costs now, creating demand for good green jobs in our communities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy for the future.

Working with dozens of local businesses through Sustainable Hamilton Burlington, we have seen how measures such as adopting energy efficiency and implementing simple behavioural changes can go a long way to make small businesses more competitive.

Small businesses will need every advantage they can get through this period of economic recovery. Smart stimulus measures must address the needs of businesses today while simultaneously ensuring they are adapting to meet the needs of tomorrow. Green stimulus targeted at helping small businesses permanently cut costs while retooling to thrive in a low-carbon future is a strategy that would be foolish to ignore. Sandi Stride, founder and strategic adviser, Sustainable Hamilton Burlington