Government of Canada launches new fund to help reduce the impacts of climate change and better protect Canadians against natural disasters

$2 billion available for infrastructure projects through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund

WINDSOR, NS, May 17, 2018 /CNW/ - Investing in mitigation and adaptation infrastructure projects to strengthen communities against the effects of climate change is critical to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Canadians, promoting economic growth and strengthening the middle class.

Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings?Hants, helped launch the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), a 10-year national program that will invest $2 billion in projects that help communities better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, seismic events and droughts. This follows the official launch earlier today in Calgary by the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

DMAF will support large-scale infrastructure projects with a minimum cost of $20 million like diversion channels, wetland restorations, wildfire barriers and setback levees.

These projects will safeguard public health and safety, protect people's homes, make sure access to essential services is not interrupted, and help communities protect their residents' quality of life.

Applicants wishing to be considered for funding under the program will have until July 31, 2018, to submit an Expression of Interest to Infrastructure Canada. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, provinces and territories; municipal and regional governments; Canadian public or not-for-profit post-secondary institutions that partner with a Canadian municipality; and band councils and First Nation, Inuit or Métis governments.

For the full eligibility list and other program details, visit the Infrastructure Canada website.

Quotes

"Now more than ever, communities across Canada need to take measures to reduce the potential impacts of natural disasters related to climate change. Here in the Maritimes and across the country, we are experiencing unprecedented extreme weather, such as the recent flooding in New Brunswick. The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will allow Canadian communities to be better prepared for the potential impact of natural disasters, and will ensure the durability of essential community services."

The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings?Hants, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Our federal partner is once again taking another important step to respond to climate change and its impact to us and all of Canada. I'm proud to say that Nova Scotia is a Canadian leader in fighting climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, Nova Scotia has a lot of coastline and the risks of natural hazards are high with rising sea levels and storm surges. Today's announcement provides us with an opportunity to apply for funding that will help us prepare for natural disasters."

The Honourable Lloyd Hines, Nova Scotia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal

Quick facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will support large-scale disaster mitigation projects with a minimum eligible cost of $20 million that help ensure continuous essential services and reduce the potential impacts of severe weather and other natural hazards.

Related product

Backgrounder: Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund

Climate change is happening and it is affecting Canadian communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. More and more Canadians realize that natural hazards like floods, wildland fires and winter storms are increasing in frequency and intensity. For many communities, these hazards are significantly affecting critical infrastructure such as transport, power grids, water supply, sewage, buildings and dikes. Infrastructure damage can result in health and safety risks, interruptions in essential community services and increasingly high costs for recovery and replacement.

The Government of Canada's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) is a 10-year, $2 billion national program designed to help communities better withstand current and future risks of natural hazards. DMAF will support large-scale infrastructure projects with a minimum cost of $20 million. 

DMAF will support changing and reinforcing existing public infrastructure, as well as building new public infrastructure including natural infrastructure, like wetlands, or built infrastructure, dams or dikes, to help address climate risks and protect communities from natural disasters.

Projects funded through DMAF will be completed by 2027-28.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:

• provinces and territories;
• municipal and regional governments;
• Canadian public or not-for-profit post-secondary institutions that partner with a Canadian municipality;
• Canadian private sector bodies, including for-profit organizations that partner with a Canadian municipality;
• not-for-profit organizations; and,
• Indigenous recipients (e.g., band councils and First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority)
• Not-for-profit organizations whose central mandate is to improve indigenous outcomes

Note: Federal entities, including federal Crown corporations, are not eligible for DMAF funding.

Partnerships among eligible recipients and across jurisdictions is encouraged.

Application process

The application process under DMAF consists of two phases:

Step I: Expression of Interest (EOI) Application (due date: July 31, 2018, at 7:00 pm Pacific Time)

• The EOI Application is a mandatory component of the application process.
• The EOI Application Form must submitted to Infrastructure Canada.
• Infrastructure Canada will perform an eligibility assessment on all complete applications submitted after the deadline.
• Eligible projects under Step I will be invited to submit a Full Application and proceed to Step II.

Step II: Full Application

• Successful Applicants will receive the Full Application Form by email and will be required to submit a completed form to Infrastructure Canada before the deadline.
• Infrastructure Canada will perform a merit assessment on all complete applications submitted before the Full Application deadline.

DMAF funding will be allocated through intakes until the funding envelope has been exhausted.

In the case of emergency incidents, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, in consultation with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, may accept projects for consideration outside the formal intake process.

Associated links

Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/dmaf-faac/index-eng.html

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/site/alt-format/pdf/plan/icp-pic/IC-InvestingInCanadaPlan-ENG.pdf

Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

Smart Cities Challenge: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/cities-villes/index-eng.html

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada