Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has set a target for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, has made fighting climate change a cornerstone of his leadership. But analysts have warned that too much government investment can add to price pressure just as the central bank is still trying to get inflation back to its target range following eight interest rate hikes over the past year. "In a year in which the central bank is still applying high interest rates to contain growth, fiscal policy should not add stimulus that would only be countered by further rate hikes," said Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC Capital Markets, in a note. While no price tag for the green investments has yet emerged, one measure will be a 30% investment tax credit to boost clean-tech manufacturing, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, two sources told Reuters last week. The budget will also include a system to lock in future carbon credit prices, a move meant to boost investments by giving businesses certainty to develop low-carbon technologies, and investments focused on increasing the capacity of the electricity grid, on battery manufacturing and on mass timber construction, sources told Reuters this month. Canada will spend more than C$2 billion ($1.5 billion) on a rebate aimed at helping low-income families bear the brunt of high inflation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported on Monday, citing a source. The budget will also include an increase in federal healthcare spending promised earlier this year to the provinces, which administer the public health system. (Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
By Steve Scherer
OTTAWA, March 28 (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister
Chrystia Freeland on Tuesday will present this year's budget,
which will have a major focus on scaling up investment in clean
technology and will include investments in healthcare and help
for low-income households.
Countries across the globe are vying for a portion of the
low-carbon economy of the future. In Canada, the pressure to
step up green investments is even more as the government seeks
to level the playing field with the United States, which passed
a series of massive incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act
(IRA) last year.
Last week Freeland said Canada is at a "crucial crossroads"
for the green transition and that it would be "reckless" not to
make major investments in clean tech. But she has also said she
does not want to fuel inflation and slowing growth means fiscal
responsibility is warranted.
"Of course the federal government needs to better position
Canada to compete with the U.S. for investment in the energy
transition," said Randall Bartlett, senior director of Canadian
economics at Desjardins, in a note. "But it can't break the bank
to do it."
Freeland will deposit the document to parliament at around 4
p.m. ET (2000 GMT).
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