CACEA has sent the following letter to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada in response to the closing of the Canada Greener Homes Loan. We will also add it to our social media channels. I will continue to work with our industry stakeholders to amplify the need for a long-term program that supports homeowners, EAs, and other retrofit service providers.
We also encourage you to join Efficiency Canada’s campaign to get MPs to act now to secure long-term funding so that program continues without interruption:
Help us keep the Greener Homes Loan Program funded!
Dear Minister Hodgson,
RE: Canada Greener Homes Loan Closing
I am writing on behalf of the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors (CACEA) and the Energy Advisor (EA) profession to express deep concern over the sudden closure of the Canada Greener Homes Loan (CGHL) program with extremely short notice.
The CGHL has demonstrated to Canadians the importance and benefits of investing in upgrades such as heat pumps, insulation, and high-performance windows—making homes more affordable, healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient. It is imperative that the momentum of homeowner retrofits continues if Canada is to have any chance of meeting its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.
Retrofits, however, are costly. Combined with rising costs of living and high interest rates, the absence of financing incentives will cause a sharp decline in these critical projects. The Loan provided an accessible pathway to improve the performance of Canada’s 14+ million existing homes, while also supporting healthier, safer, more resilient housing—and sustaining a vital workforce.
During the recent election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney committed to funding home retrofits and lowering energy bills. While the Canadian Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) is a positive step, it remains limited in scope and eligibility. In many cases, projects funded under CGHAP will not require an EnerGuide label— which also undermines the government’s stated goal of advancing mandatory home labelling. The abrupt closure of the Loan leaves families stranded and prevents them from moving forward with planned upgrades. Many homeowners have already booked audits into the fall and early winter with the intent of applying for the Loan and begun discussions with contractors. Industry cannot absorb this sudden change, and the financial and reputational impacts on both businesses and homeowners will be significant. The retrofit sector, already struggling from the loss of the Canada Greener Homes Grant (CGHG), now faces further layoffs and instability.
NRCan’s earlier investment of millions of dollars built a robust and viable EA profession. More than 1,000 new EAs entered the marketplace during the CGHG and CGHL, bringing the total to over 1,900 (as reported by NRCan monthly). These programs raised awareness of the value EAs bring and fostered critical conversations about their role in supporting homeowners and industry stakeholders. However, as seen with the closure of the Grant, the number of practicing EAs has already declined by roughly 600 due to reduced demand. The loss of the Loan will accelerate job losses, drive professionals out of the sector permanently, and reduce EA capacity in both retrofits and new construction (e.g., building code compliance and guidance for higher-performance tiers).
The ripple effects extend beyond EAs. Manufacturers, contractors, installers, and skilled trades across the retrofit ecosystem will face similar setbacks. Much of the progress made in recent years to strengthen Canada’s home retrofit industry will be lost—forcing future governments to rebuild capacity from scratch, as has happened with past stop-and-start programs. Without sustainable career pathways, Canada risks losing the experienced professionals and skilled tradespeople required to meet its housing and climate objectives.
EAs are central to Canada’s climate strategy. Beyond supporting incentive programs like the CGHL, EAs help homeowners, contractors, builders, and other stakeholders identify pathways to reduce emissions, improve resilience, and comply with building codes. They are also vital to the successful rollout of mandatory home labelling.
Short-notice program closures harm homeowners, EAs, skilled trades, and small businesses alike—and they undermine Canada’s long-term climate and affordability goals. What is needed is not temporary measures, but sustained investment that allows families to plan confidently, supports small business growth, and builds stable careers in skilled professions. These priorities align directly with the government’s commitments to affordability, job creation, and workforce development.
Making homes more efficient—both existing and new—while retaining and growing a skilled workforce is one of the most effective, affordable strategies to reduce household costs and strengthen Canada’s energy future. For these reasons, we respectfully urge the government to continue investing in the Greener Homes Loan program on a long-term basis.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these concerns and explore solutions to retain and expand the capacity of experienced EAs and others who serve the Part 9 sector.
Thank you for your leadership and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Cindy Gareau
Executive Director