Municipalities across Canada to receive support for 67 new infrastructure initiatives

OTTAWA, March 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Investing in innovative green infrastructure projects contributes to a clean growth economy and strengthens the middle class by ensuring communities are healthy and sustainable places to live.

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Jenny Gerbasi, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) today announced funding for 67 initiatives in communities across Canada through three programs: the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP), the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), and the Green Municipal Fund (GMF).

Improving Canada's infrastructure lays ? in large part ? in the hands of the municipalities. Communities across the country want to be sure they are investing their infrastructure money wisely, and that they are ready to adapt to the potential effects of climate change as they make local infrastructure investment decisions. The projects announced today demonstrate the work being done on these fronts in municipalities large and small.

For example, the City of Montreal, Quebec, is receiving funding through MCIP for a pilot project that will create green spaces in alleyways. Rooftop drains will be disconnected from sewer systems and excess rainwater will be used to water plants and walkways between buildings, improving both public and private spaces. This project could potentially divert the equivalent of two Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water from the city's sewers.

Funding through MAMP is helping Canadian municipalities make informed decisions on infrastructure investments based on sound asset management practices. In Newfoundland, seven municipalities are receiving funding to train local officials on asset management planning, preparing a local inventory of assets, and reporting on the preliminary state of infrastructure. This training will help communities make informed investment decisions for infrastructure assets that will deliver value for money, while serving their citizens' needs.

Through GMF, communities are not only improving the environment around them, they are maximizing municipal resources and improving the lives of their citizens. The Township of Douro-Dummer, Ontario will study the feasibility of constructing a net-zero energy centralized public works and emergency services building, which would produce at least as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. This initiative will provide an example for other small rural towns that want to improve and consolidate municipal infrastructure in environmentally sustainable ways.

MCIP, MAMP, and GMF are funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Quotes

"These investments will help municipalities across the country to plan, build and maintain their infrastructure more strategically. Investments in green infrastructure projects help build healthy, liveable, cleaner, and more sustainable communities now and for future generations."
- The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and meet our future energy needs. Our Government is looking to achieve this is by working collaboratively with provinces, territories, and industry to create a national model net-zero energy ready code for new homes and buildings by 2022. We are proud to support projects that are charting our course to the low-carbon future."  
- The Honourable Jim Carr, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources

"It's exciting to see so many municipalities?big and small?stepping up to do things differently. All three programs behind today's announcement are helping communities do just that and learn from each other along the way. We are proud to fund these initiatives and know that local action in communities across Canada is driving change on a national scale. Together, we're making real progress toward Canada's climate and sustainability goals."
- Jenny Gerbasi, FCM President

Quick facts

• The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program is a five-year, $75-million program designed to encourage Canadian municipalities to better prepare for and adapt to the new realities of climate change as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Municipal Asset Management Program is a five-year, $50-million program designed to help Canadian municipalities strengthen infrastructure investment decisions based on sound asset management practices.
• The Green Municipal Fund is a program designed to support initiatives that demonstrate innovative solutions or approaches to a municipal environmental issue that can generate new lessons and models for communities of all sizes and types across Canada. The Government of Canada endowed FCM with $550 million to establish the program and an additional $125 million top-up was announced in Budget 2016.

Related product

Backgrounder: Municipalities to receive funding for 67 infrastructure initiatives across Canada

Associated links

Municipal Asset Management Program 
Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program 
Green Municipal Fund 
FCM Funding 
Government of Canada's $180 billion+ infrastructure plan

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada