End of Canada’s Greener Homes Program Could Trigger Thousands of Layoffs
With the imminent closure of the federal government’s popular Canada Greener Homes grant program, the energy audit industry faces an uncertain future, with businesses nationwide warning of impending mass layoffs.
The program, which offers up to $5,000 for energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, windows, and heat pumps, is slated to conclude soon, with new applications expected to cease by the end of March. However, an official timeline remains undisclosed.
In the interim, companies conducting mandatory home energy audits are experiencing a temporary surge in demand as homeowners rush to secure grant funding before its expiration.
This surge has prompted Stephen Farrell, CEO of VerdaTech Energy Management, to cancel all staff vacations. Currently, the company conducts approximately 600 assessments monthly in Alberta and British Columbia, but Farrell anticipates a drastic reduction to only one or two assessments per month once the federal program concludes. VerdaTech Energy Management also operates in Ontario.
Farrell advises customers to enroll in the program and undergo the initial assessment promptly. However, providing guidance to clients or his own staff proves challenging, as Farrell noted the absence of a clear timeline from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the program’s administering body.
Further complicating matters is the temporary suspension of new applications in Ontario starting January 19, aimed at “reconciling all current applicant files.”
Adding to the confusion is a temporary halt to new applications in Ontario effective Jan. 19