FCM's Green Municipal Fund supports the remediation of public land in the downtown area of the Municipality of Val-Morin (09/01/2012)

Berry Vrbanovic, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and councillor for the City of Kitchener, Ont., and the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a Green Municipal Fund^TM grant of $19,740 to the Municipality of Val-Morin. The municipality has put the funding toward environmental assessments of public land located in the downtown area, to facilitate site remediation under the municipal urban development program.

"FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments," said Vrbanovic. "The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."

"The Government of Canada is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund," said Minister Oliver. "Today's announcement is another example of how our government - in partnership with FCM - is helping communities like the Municipality of Val-Morin build a greener future for our citizens"

As part of its 2009 sustainable development strategic plan, Val-Morin conducted an environmental assessment on downtown public land where contamination due to past use for petroleum products distribution was suspected. The municipality retained the services of a consulting firm that had conducted a soil and groundwater characterization of another property at 1111 10th Avenue in
Val-Morin. Data from the consultants' final project report will be used to guide municipal remediation initiatives.

 "The Municipality of Val-Morin appreciates the support of the Green Municipal Fund for our sustainable initiative," said Mayor Jacques Brien. "With the remediation of this site, the city will be able to revitalize the downtown core, as set out in its urban development program. Thanks to the GMF contribution, which partly funded the environmental assessment of the site, we are moving closer to a greener future for the citizens of Val-Morin."

The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund^TM. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

For information:

Green Municipal Fund Maurice Gingues Media Relations Officer Green Municipal Fund Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tel.:  613-907-6399 Fax:  613-244-1515	Municipality of Val-Morin         Pierre Delage City Manager Municipality of Val-Morin Tel.: 819-324-5670	Natural Resources Canada Patricia Best Director of Communications Office of the Minister Natural Resources Canada Tel.:  613-996-2007 Media Relations Natural Resources Canada Tel.:  613-992-4447