Environmental groups think their green projects can help "surge" the economy back to health. And they want Ottawa to pledge up to $2 billion in its January budget to do it.

The members of the Green Budget Coalition, a collection of environmental groups that provide yearly budget advice to the federal government, met this week with a representative from the Prime Minister's Office. They had with them a Pembina Institute report of green ideas that could stimulate economy.

The big focus is on putting more federal money into renewal energy, like wind and solar projects, into more public transit and into increasing energy efficiency in everything from private homes to businesses. The coalition also wants Ottawa to set up a cap and trade system.

The estimated price tag is about $25 billion.

The estimated payoff is up to 50 thousand jobs.

Environmental groups say Canada should act now because once the Obama administration takes over, the United States will be all about spending money on green projects to create jobs.

And history shows that whatever this country's largest trading partner does on the environment, Canada eventually does too.

Margo McDiarmid