Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Jenny Gerbasi, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) have announced funding for 103 initiatives in communities across Canada through two new funding programs: the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) and the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP).
One MCIP-funded project is in Surrey, British Columbia. The community is studying how to adapt to coastal flooding and increase community resiliency. This project has a number of components, such as a plan to minimize infrastructure risk as guided by Engineers Canada PIEVC protocol; a coastal flood adaptation strategy; and a plan for prioritizing infrastructure and ecosystem risk from coastal flooding. The total investment among the three components is worth almost $500,000.
“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,” said Minister Sohi. “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.”
Other examples include Edmonton, Alberta, which will receive $175,000 to support work on a Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy. While Tecumseh, Ontario will receive $175,000 to pursue work on a stormwater drainage master plan.
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.
“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.
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. Local solutions are helping tackle national challenges — and are building a more livable, competitive Canada.
MCIP and MAMP are delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.