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Prime Minister Carney announces landmark investment to retrofit one million homes, cutting energy costs and emissionsDARTMOUTH, NS, Oct. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- The world is changing rapidly. In response, a confident Canada is choosing to build. We are building major infrastructure projects – new ports, mines, highways, and clean energy corridors that will transform our economy and unlock billions of dollars in new investment. We are doubling our grid through our National Electricity Strategy, to harness Canada's electricity advantage and provide more clean, reliable, and affordable power for Canadians. Heating is one of the biggest expenses for Canadians during the winter months, and too often that money goes to the most expensive and least efficient ways to heat a home. Over seven million households in Canada still heat their homes with oil, propane, diesel, electric baseboards, or outdated furnaces. Our government is laser-focused on giving Canadians options to lower their energy costs. That's why, as part of our National Electricity Strategy, we committed to help one million Canadian households make retrofits. Today, following Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement of a $2 billion investment to deliver one million home retrofits across Canada, the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, highlighted the housing and infrastructure measures that will help deliver on that commitment. First, we are launching a new National Heat Pump Rebate to help up to 820,000 households make the switch to more efficient electric heat pumps. We will do this by:
Heat pumps are more efficient, cleaner, and safer than oil and electric furnaces. They will save an average of $1,400 a year for households currently heating with oil or electrical boards. Second, we are working with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to help apartment building owners retrofit 280,000 units over the next eight years. We will do this by:
Combined, these measures will support one million home retrofits and reduce Canada's emissions by over 25 megatonnes – the equivalent of taking nearly eight and a half million cars off our roads for one year. Today's announcement delivers on a core commitment of our National Electricity Strategy. It is part of our broader mission to build at speed and scale to double our energy infrastructure and build a strong Canadathat is powered by clean, affordable, and reliable energy. A plan that, done right, lowers costs for Canadians and reduces emissions. Quotes "Affordable housing is also about affordable energy bills. By supporting energy-efficient retrofits in apartment buildings and multi-unit housing, we're helping lower costs for Canadians, improve housing quality, and build more sustainable communities." "The investment through the Canada Greener Affordable Homes Program demonstrates that manageable rents and sustainability go hand in hand. At the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia, we are committed to providing high-quality homes that are energy-efficient, environmentally responsible, and offer manageable rents to working households. This funding has helped us reduce operating costs, improve resident comfort and well-being, and ensure that rents remain stable and manageable over the long term. In this massive undertaking, we ensured that every resident remained in place – no displacements. We are grateful to the Government of Canada and Minister Gregor Robertson for supporting solutions that strengthen communities while advancing Canada's housing and climate goals." "As a long-standing member of the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia and with a passion for environmental impact, I have had the pleasure of working alongside a group that understands that in partnership, we don't have to risk manageable rents, to achieve important environmental impacts. We can advance work that achieves two social impacts, through collaboration and partnership." "Investing in energy efficiency is one of the most practical ways to make life more affordable for Canadians while building a cleaner, more competitive economy. By helping more households access efficient technologies like heat pumps and supporting upgrades across homes and buildings, these investments will lower energy costs, improve comfort and deliver lasting benefits for communities across the country." Quick facts
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