Port Moody urges province to combat ‘energy poverty’

With approximately 20 percent of Canadian families struggling to afford the cost of heating their home, it’s time for the province to address energy poverty, according to a resolution submitted by Port Moody Coun. Amy Lubik on Tuesday.

“The biggest chunk of our municipal climate burden is from buildings,” Lubik said. “We are in the climate crisis, we need to decrease our energy use, and energy retrofits are one of the biggest things that we can do.”

The resolution, which received unanimous support from council, calls on the province to expand the Youth Climate Corps BC (YCC) program and scale up building-emission retrofits.

Youth Climate Corps BC is an organization which provides training and work experience related to climate action for people aged 17 to 30. As part of the province’s 2024 budget, $3 million was provided to the organization to help expand its programs in areas like wildfire-risk reduction, local food security, energy efficiency, ecosystem restoration. But Port Moody wants to see the program expanded further.

“Port Moody has supported YCC in the past because they focus on community specific issues,” Lubik said. “In this case, we are advocating to expand a single proven program to lower emissions, bring down energy bills, and build the workforce we need for all local governments.”

She added society needs to decrease its energy usage overall to meet provincial climate goals, and energy efficiency retrofits have the dual benefit of increasing affordability for vulnerable populations.

Studies have shown energy impoverished residents suffer from temperature discomfort, disruptions from utility shutoffs, food and medication insecurity, higher incidences of respiratory illness in children, higher stress and poorer mental health outcomes, according to Lubik.

Coun. Agtarap agreed, stating that while the province had done a good job of increasing retrofit programs, the programs are not well known yet.

She added even if strata councils, strata managers or non-profits know the programs exist, they may not know how to access them.

“The YCC can bridge that gap, I think that’s an excellent opportunity for our province,” Agtarap said. “We are also in a clean-energy transition, and we need to help people, and especially youth, train for the jobs of the future.”

The Community Energy Association has identified challenges from limited capacity around contractor availability and knowledge, and the need for energy advisors, Lubik said, adding that Energy Efficient Canada has also warned about a shortage of qualified workers needed to support retrofits.

The YCC’s Climate Friendly Homes Program helps educate homeowners and renters on climate-related topics like rebates, heat pumps, resources and aid-networks for seniors during extreme heat events.

Similar initiatives have helped provide home audits to lower heating bills by hundreds of dollars per year and worked with non-profit housing providers to lower their overhead heating costs.

Lubik said these programs have been successful because of their ability to work with local governments, who can provide accurate information, support, and networking for the YCC’s outreach efforts.

Instead of just hoping people and organizations know these programs exists, the YCC puts boots on the ground to help fill capacity gaps, Lubik added.

Following approval of Lubik’s motion, Port Moody is set to send letters to the B.C. premier, relevant provincial ministries, and advocacy motions to Lower Mainland Local Government Association’s and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ 2025 conventions.