Canada and FCM invest in green communities in New Brunswick
Posted in: News Item
Date Posted: 2020-10-09
Organization Name: Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Canadians live in cleaner, healthier communities when municipalities develop innovative solutions to reduce pollution, improve energy efficiency, and find new uses for public infrastructure.
Even through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) continue to make strategic investments through the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to support more sustainable communities of all sizes. GMF is funded by the Government of Canada and delivered to municipalities by FCM.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson; Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan; Madawaska−Restigouche MP Rene Arseneault, speaking on behalf of Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna; and Atholville Mayor Michel Soucy, speaking on behalf of FCM, joined other officials on October 8 to announce more than $417,000 for an energy efficiency project in four New Brunswick communities through GMF.
“Municipalities are important partners in climate action,” Wilkinson said. “Their local solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions will build upon the national work already underway to protect our environment, strengthen local economies, and create well-paying jobs in communities across the country.”
O’Regan agreed, “We are investing in the green projects we need to grow our economy, save Canadians money, create jobs and achieve our climate goals.”
Led by the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick (AFMNB), the project will replace existing fuel-burning furnace heating systems with high-efficiency biomass boilers and improve energy efficiency in four municipal buildings in the province: Atholville’s town hall, Caraquet’s municipal garage; Rivière-Verte’s municipal garage; and Saint-Léonard’s regional emergency centre.
“Investing in innovative solutions to help residents live in cleaner, healthier communities is vital,” Arseneault said. “The green projects in Atholville, Caraquet, Rivière-Verte and Saint-Léonard will not only generate cost-savings and reduce GHG’s, they will help communities develop new ways to be resilient to climate change, and protect the well-being of families.”
The project’s goals are to reduce heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions, generate energy savings, promote local expertise and resources, and enhance job creation locally. Using residual forest biomass as a source of heating could generate a ripple effect on other small towns in New Brunswick and the rest of Canada – this model is particularly appealing for rural regions whose economies are tied to the forest or agricultural sector.
“Local governments are on the front lines of climate change. That means local action is critical,” Soucy said. “Municipalities of all sizes are modelling green solutions that can be replicated and scaled up across the country for deep national impact. Like installing cleaner heating systems that make peoples’ lives better and help strengthen the local economy. Supported by important federal government investments, the Green Municipal Fund is enabling local action that can help achieve Canada’s climate change goals.”
The pandemic has offered an opportunity to think about what really matters in our communities, engage in meaningful conversations about taking care of those around us, and reflect on the kind of future we want to build. Together with our partners we will build a fairer and more resilient Canada that works for everyone.