Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Window rebates, the inclusion of rental properties in rebate initiatives, and support for walking and cycling infrastructure are all smaller but significant initiatives to help reduce emissions. 

Further areas for the government to pursue are greener building codes and legislation to support the construction and demolition waste reduction program. To the Minister of Environment. Construction waste makes up 25 per cent of our total waste in Alberta, but only 10 per cent is recycled. When will the minister introduce construction and demolition waste reduction legislation? It’s ready to go. It was supposed to come in the fall. Will we see it this spring?

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, we’re currently engaged in conversations with the Alberta Construction Association and others associated with this initiative. We have a memorandum of understanding in place.

I can advise the member that that dialogue is ongoing, and I am hopeful that we will be able to move forward as soon as possible.

Ms Blakeman: That was a nonanswer.

To the same minister: since 96 per cent of Albertans feel that conservation and energy efficiency in our homes is important and 86 per cent of Albertans are willing to pay more for this feature when purchasing a new home, when will the minister increase the energy efficiency requirements for new homes in the provincial building codes? That’s directed to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to the question.

Ms Blakeman: Well, that’s typical but unfortunate.

Back to the Minister of Environment. Since there is a high degree of support for legislated energy efficiency targets and the government’s own 2008 climate change strategy promised it would develop an energy efficiency act, when will the minister introduce energy efficiency legislation?

Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, the issue of energy efficiency is one that’s critical if we’re going to be able to accomplish the much-needed commitment that we have to CO2 reduction in our overall climate change strategy. That being said, the legislation that’s already in place, the climate change and emissions management legislation, has significant amount of authority under our regulation-making powers, and we anticipate that we’ll probably have a two-step approach. We’ll be moving forward under existing legislation and then introducing new . . .

Alberta Hansard, February 24, 2010

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