Four Projects to Enhance Climate Change Resiliency in the Greater Montreal Area

MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in green infrastructure helps communities reduce their carbon footprint and increase their resilience to climate change. It also helps safeguard public health, protect the environment and create a clean-growth economy.

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Vicki‑May Hamm, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), today announced investments totaling nearly $2.8 million for four projects funded under the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program.

In Montreal, the Ruelles bleues-vertes 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.

For its part, the City of Boucherville is building a new environmentally responsible park-and-ride facility. The new lot, located at the intersection of de Montarville Boulevard and Highway 132 East, will have 230 spots and will facilitate and encourage the use of alternate, innovative and collective modes of transportation. The new parking lot will also foster a modal shift (single-occupant car-bus) during work on the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel, which is slated to begin in two years.

The City of Laval will be undertaking demineralization operations and planting more than 7,000 plants to help lower the surrounding temperature, reduce the impact of urban heat islands and thus help to protect vulnerable populations.

Lastly, the City of Beloeil 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.

Quotes

"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. Through partnerships like the one we have with FCM, we are helping provide solid modern, green and resilient 21^st-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 Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Municipalities are on the front lines of climate change. That means local action is critical. 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."

Vicki-May Hamm, FCM President

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Quick Facts

• The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (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.
• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class, is the government's plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare.
• With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities.

Associated links

Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program

FCM Funding

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada