REPORT

After decades of investments, Canada has made limited progress toward decarbonizing its building sector. As a result, there is growing consensus that mandatory policies are necessary to meet our climate commitments. At the forefront of this transition are Mandatory Building Performance Standards (MBPS). In this report, we consider the role of the federal government in advancing commercial building decarbonization at scale, using MBPS, through design, investment, implementation and regulation.

🔑 Key insights:

• MBPS is an established and pivotal policy for scaling retrofit activity needed to meet jurisdictional climate commitments.
• The federal government’s expertise and infrastructure uniquely positions it to accelerate MBPS program design via tailored guidance, practical tools, and technical assistance.
• Careful consideration of constitutional, administrative, and political challenges will be essential to prevent federal-provincial disputes.