McGuinty Government Creates More Than 5,500 Jobs In The Green Economy

Waterloo Region - More than 1000 publicly funded schools across the province will be made more energy efficient to give Ontario students better places to learn and help boards save energy and money. Construction will start as soon as this summer.

This two-year investment will help improve existing schools across Ontario, while creating and sustaining more than 5,500 jobs. Of the $550-million investment, $400 million will be allocated to:

• Conduct energy audits to help manage and conserve energy

• Retrofit buildings with new energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and boilers.

For Waterloo Region, this means:

• $ 9,394,253 for the Waterloo Region District School Board

• $4,252,546 for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board The remaining $150 million will be allocated on a project-by-project basis to improve the learning environment for students currently in energy inefficient portables and schools. The investment will save school boards money by reducing energy bills and will create jobs in Ontario's new green economy.

Ontario schools are also teaching kids how to be more environmentally friendly. Starting in the fall of 2009, environmental education will be added to the curriculum in every subject in every grade. And programs such as EcoSchools are teaching students about conserving energy, minimizing waste and greening school grounds.