The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), made the announcement today at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology.
“Our Government is investing in more than just clusters of energy-efficient homes — we’re creating cost-efficient, sustainable neighbourhoods,” said Minister Raitt. “Building communities that use new, clean-energy technologies will create high-quality jobs for Canadians while protecting and preserving our environment.”
The new initiative will showcase the talents and innovation of Canadian residential developers, planners, designers and municipalities. The initiative is being led and funded equally by NRCan and CMHC.
“The EQuilibrium Communities Initiative will highlight the talents and innovation of Canadian residential developers, planners, designers and municipalities as leaders in sustainable housing and community development,” said Komarnicki. “These communities will integrate sustainable housing, infrastructure and land-use planning to help Canadians balance their housing needs with those of the natural environment.”
A call for project submissions will be issued this summer, inviting developers, with their teams of planners, designers, and municipalities, to submit project proposals. Winning teams will develop and showcase neighbourhoods that are more sustainable and energy efficient than most existing communities. Improvements will be achieved in the areas of energy use, water efficiency, environmental protection, land-use planning, clean-energy transportation and affordable housing.
