Economy and jobs

Is the workforce ready for a growing retrofit industry?

8/2025 - Organizations are leading the way to develop the green building workforce ahead of new building policies like Toronto’s emerging Building Emissions Performance Standards.

Net-zero energy, buildings, and infrastructure can drive Toronto’s economic development

10/2024 - With the Toronto's infrastructure, built environment, and electricity grid decades behind modernization, the time is right for the City of Toronto put net-zero at the core of its new economic plan.

More efficient homes plus new local jobs can create lasting affordability

12/2023 - Community benefits strategies for major public infrastructure projects are increasingly in play.

A new building policy approach that’s working

11/2023 - Existing building performance has been historically challenging to regulate, but that’s changing with the recent proliferation of mandatory building performance standards (BPS) across North America.

Ontario’s next gas plant scandal

10/2022 - On October 7th, Ontario’s Minister of Energy directed the IESO to procure 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas plants to generate electricity. This decision was taken without any public consultation, based on a short IESO report with no financial analysis or comparison of other pathways. Amidst increasing fossil fuel prices and plummeting costs of readily available clean solutions, investing in new gas plants would be environmentally and fiscally reckless. But it’s not a done deal.

Aerial drone view of a wind turbine in the foreground of a coal fired power generating station.

Clean Electricity Standard to set the stage for Canada’s energy transition

4/2022 - The federal government is now consulting on its Clean Electricity Standard to help Canada reach a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. With Ontario’s electricity emissions forecast to triple in the next decade, this is an important opportunity to provide feedback.

A throne speech worthy of the next generation

9/2020 - If we asked a child of the next generation to look back at vintage footage of Canada’s 2020 throne speech, from the era of pandemic and wildfires, what would they need to hear?

Deep Retrofit Diary: Building a Green Workforce

2/2020 - TAF’s first deep retrofit is possible through partnership with Building Up.

Ontario environment plan needs a better bang for its buck

3/2019 - Let’s focus on a potential opportunity: how Ontario can accelerate private sector investment in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Specifically, the proposed Ontario Carbon Trust (OCT) can succeed if it uses public funds to mobilize private capital and deliver local climate solutions.

Fall Economic Statement has benefits for urban climate action

11/2018 - New tax incentives from the federal government's Fall Economic Statement show promise for climate action. Plus, a national Social Finance Fund. Here's our summary on the TAF blog.

Energy efficiency leads to job and GDP growth in Canada, new research shows

6/2018 - Investments in energy-efficient buildings result in more local jobs and economic growth across Canada. From retrofits to housing renewal in Indigenous communities, energy efficiency can strengthen our economy and get us closer to a low-carbon future. Read our guest blog by Corey Diamond of Efficiency Canada.

TransformTO: Full funding is critical for climate action

1/2018 - When it comes to meeting Toronto’s climate targets, words are not enough. We need to invest to achieve our goals, starting now. That’s why the Council decision on the TransformTO 2018 operating budget is so important. Read TAF's letter to the City's Budget Committee.