Canada Unveils Clean-Tech Tax Credits and $15 Billion Green Growth Fund

Canada is boosting its green technology push with new tax incentives and a C$15 billion ($10.9 billion) growth fund aimed at closing competitive gaps with the United States, the government announced Thursday. Under the fall economic statement, investors in net-zero technologies, battery storage, and clean hydrogen projects will be eligible for tax credits covering up to 30% of investment costs. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland also confirmed the launch of the growth fund by year-end, designed to mitigate risks for private investors backing emerging clean technologies and infrastructure. The fund will support initiatives such as carbon capture and storage through contracts for difference, shielding investors from potential policy changes. The measures are Canada’s first significant response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which provides generous incentives for clean energy adoption. The government also proposed a 2% tax on corporate stock buybacks, expected to generate C$2.1 billion over five years, intended to encourage reinvestment in businesses and workers. Experts welcomed the step but noted gaps. “It’s a move in the right direction helping Canada compete with the U.S., but it falls short of what’s needed to meet climate targets,” said Scott MacDougall of the Pembina Institute. Freeland emphasized that these initiatives represent only a “down payment” on the country’s green transition, with additional measures—including a hydrogen investment tax credit and support for advanced manufacturing—expected in next year’s budget. The new policies mark Canada’s strategic effort to accelerate low-carbon innovation while maintaining economic competitiveness amid a global clean-energy race.