News: Communities receive support for clean innovation and infrastructure planning

Canadians live in cleaner and healthier communities when municipalities use innovative ways to reduce pollution, improve energy efficiency and find new uses for their public infrastructure.

That’s why the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announced funding for 42 new initiatives in communities across Canada through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP).

The announcement was made by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Vicki-May Hamm, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Under FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, communities of all sizes are implementing some of Canada’s most advanced solutions to protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the City of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, is using funding from GMF to look at ways to transform a former swimming pool into a specially designed “innovation hub” where researchers and entrepreneurs can work together to turn discoveries into new products and services that create jobs and business opportunities. The proposed retrofit would examine ways to improve the building’s energy efficiency, reduce water consumption and waste, and give an unused facility a new purpose.

Under FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program, five rural communities in Manitoba are developing better ways to manage their existing infrastructure assets so that they are safer, better maintained and last longer. The participating communities include Alexander, Gimli, Morris, and Whitemouth and the Local Government District of Pinawa.

Quotes

All Canadians should benefit from modern, resilient and green infrastructure that gives them a better place to call home. That’s why the Government of Canada is investing in municipalities that take action to reduce pollution and improve the way they manage their existing infrastructure assets. These investments will result in safer, cleaner and healthier communities that give all Canadians more opportunities to thrive.

— The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

Our investment in the City of Mount Pearl’s innovative project will improve energy efficiency in existing municipal infrastructure, so Canadians can benefits from lower energy costs and a cleaner environment.

— The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources

The investment in the initiatives announced today highlights how municipal leaders across Canada are committed to building more resilient, livable, and sustainable communities. FCM is proud to see municipalities use our programs to support local solutions with national impact, contributing to infrastructure renewal and our transition to a low-carbon economy.

— Vicki-May Hamm, FCM President

Quick facts

The Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced support for 42 new initiatives in communities across Canada through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), amounting to just over $2.1 million.
The Green Municipal FundTM (GMF) supports initiatives that advance innovative solutions to environmental challenges. These projects improve air, water and land quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate economic and social benefits to local communities. Through GMF, municipalities share lessons learned and successful new models for advancing sustainability in communities of all sizes in all regions across Canada. GMF is a $625 million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.
The Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP) is designed to help Canadian municipalities strengthen infrastructure investment decisions based on sound asset management practices. The program provides asset management training, funding and information sharing to enable municipalities to access the data needed to plan effectively. MAMP is a five-year, $50-million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.