St. John’s— In communities across the country, Canadians are experiencing the impacts of climate change. By investing in initiatives that lower emission and increase the resiliency of communities, we are creating jobs and building Canada’s low-emission energy future.

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources and Joanne Vanderheyden, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), today announced an investment of $104,800 through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve water quality in St. John’s and Corner Brook in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The City of Corner Brook will receive $56,200 to conduct a feasibility study with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper to investigate technical options for combining the treatment of municipal and paper mill wastewater. Currently municipal wastewater is not treated and is discharged directly into the Humber Arm marine environment. The industrial effluent from the mill is currently treated through an activated sludge process.

The City of St. John’s will receive $48,600 to develop a climate plan that aims to reduce emissions and stabilize energy costs. The Resilient St. John’s Climate Plan will be developed using a stakeholder approach and a comprehensive geospatial energy flow model. This approach would allow St. John’s to estimate energy use and costs in the community at a neighbourhood level, as well as the potential for job creation under a future scenario. This information would then be used to develop an evidence-based, equitable and economically viable plan for the city to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a strong focus on addressing equity and energy poverty.

These two initiatives highlight some of the ways GMF continues to build on its 20-year record of supporting transformative environmental initiatives and helping municipalities explore new approaches to contribute to the goal of reaching net zero by 2050. The Government of Canada has invested $1.65 billion in GMF since its inception, enabling municipalities to support projects like these that leverage local resources to drive innovative solutions.

Quotes

"Our cities and communities influence half of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. That means local action is critical. With support from the Green Municipal Fund, this is what’s happening: municipalities of all sizes are implementing smart low-carbon solutions. Empowering this local expertise is vital to meeting Canada’s climate goals. When orders of government work together to reduce emissions, we’re building more resilient communities."

– Joanne Vanderheyden, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

"Local green solutions create jobs, lower emissions and build a more prosperous and sustainable economy for all. This is how we get to net-zero by 2050."

- The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources

"Cities are key partners in pioneering practical climate solutions. Through the Green Municipal Fund, we’re supporting municipalities in their efforts to lower emissions through projects like energy efficient retrofits, electric and hybrid electric transit pilots and efficiencies in wastewater treatment. By working together, we can create good jobs and grow the economy, protect the environment, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities."

– The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Canadians across the country are working hard to cut pollution and create jobs. Improvements such as these in Newfoundland and Labrador will help municipalities reduce emissions and save on energy costs, ensuring cleaner air and water for our children and grandchildren."

– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Associated links

Green Municipal Fund
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
Investing in Canada plan project map

Contacts

Ian Cameron
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
613-447-3488
Ian.Cameron@canada.ca 

FCM Media Relations
613-907-6395
media@fcm.ca

Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
343-292-6100
NRCan.media.RNCan@canada.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

Green Municipal Fund
Climate change
Energy
Sustainability
Transportation
Water
© 2024 Federation of Canadian Municipalities