Halton Hills Gets Federal Funding for Infrastructure

Published October 20, 2017 at 3:17 pm

Halton Hills is among 97 communities across Canada receiving funding from the federal government for infrastructure initiatives.

Halton Hills is among 97 communities across Canada receiving funding from the federal government for infrastructure initiatives.

“These new programs will help municipalities to plan, build and maintain their infrastructure more strategically, and will enable them to invest in infrastructure projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions and better preparing for the impacts of climate change. Innovative green infrastructure projects contribute to a clean growth economy and strengthen the middle class by ensuring communities are healthy and sustainable places to live,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi.

Sohi and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) president Jenny Gerbasi announced funding on Oct. 19 for 103 initiatives in communities across Canada through two new programs: the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) and the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP).

Halton Hills is receiving a $175,000 MCIP grant for the scenario-based climate change adaptation plan.

The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program is a new 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 announcement includes about $3.7 million in MCIP grants towards 28 projects in municipalities across Canada.

Improving Canada’s infrastructure lays – in large part – in the hands of the municipalities.

“Communities large and small are looking for ways to maximize their infrastructure dollars, plan for, and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and undertake programs that benefit the environment,” said Gerbasi.

“Local solutions are helping tackle national challenges — and are building a more livable, competitive Canada. We are proud of the great work communities are undertaking with the help of these federally funded programs.”

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 announcement includes more than $3.1 million in MAMP grants towards 75 projects in municipalities across Canada.

Communities across the country want to be sure they are investing their infrastructure money wisely, and that they are aware of and ready to adapt to the potential effects of climate change as they make local infrastructure investment decisions.

The projects announced demonstrate the work being done on these fronts in municipalities large and small, say the feds.

For example, through MCIP, communities such as Surrey, British Columbia are studying how to adapt to coastal flooding and increase community resiliency, and Edmonton, Alberta is working on a Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy. These types of projects are crucial as communities deal with climate change and its environmental impacts.

MAMP is helping Canadian municipalities make informed decisions on infrastructure investment based on sound asset management practices.

For example, in St Clair, Ontario that means integrating new software that will make existing data more useful during decision making processes.

The Town of Paradise, Newfoundland is working towards a full-fledged asset management plan to ensure they are more strategically funding the town’s basic infrastructure needs.

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

Quebec municipalities are currently not permitted to receive funding from FCM’s Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program and FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program. FCM is working with the province of Quebec’sMinistère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire (MAMOT) to find a solution that will provide Quebecmunicipalities access to MAMP and MCIP funding as soon as possible.

Photo courtesy of the Town of Halton Hills

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