François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of infrastructure and communities, and Vicki‑May Hamm, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced investments totaling nearly $2.8 million for four projects in the Greater Montreal Area. The projects will be funded under the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP).
“Our government is committed to investing in projects that support a more strategic and sustainable approach to planning, building, and maintaining public infrastructure in response to the impacts of climate change,” said Champagne. “Through partnerships like the one we have with FCM, we are helping provide solid modern, green, and resilient 21st-century infrastructure across the country. The investments we are announcing today in the Greater Montreal area will make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to build a strong and healthy middle class.”
The Ruelles bleues-vertes project in Montreal is one of the projects that was funded through MCIP. The project aims to relieve the pressure of rainwater on municipal infrastructure in the Sud-Ouest borough. The city’s underwater drainage network was not designed to handle the kinds of extreme rain events that are becoming more frequent, causing overflow and flooding. This project aims to redirect water from roof drains into alleyways and also planting vegetation.
The City of Beloeil also received an investment from this round of funding. The city will be integrating green infrastructure into the redevelopment of Duvernay Street to allow rainwater to filter naturally into the soil, lower ambient heat, and revitalize the commercial strip. The work includes planting 200 trees and installing urban furniture, two charging stations for electric vehicles, and bicycle racks to promote green travel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Municipalities are on the front lines of climate change. That means local action is critical,” said Hamm. “Municipalities of all sizes are modelling local green solutions that can be replicated and scaled up across the country for deep national impact. This is what today’s announcement is all about – orders of government working together to build better lives for Canadians.”
MCIP helps municipalities and partner organizations by providing funding, training and information sharing. It is 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. MCIP is a five-year $75-million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.
