The Recorder
MANITOULIN—The municipality of Central Manitoulin has been included among 59 municipalities across Canada to receive funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) climate change staff grants to help address staffing gaps and increased capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change or reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions.
Canadians benefit from safer, cleaner and healthier places to live when municipalities invest in innovative ways to reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency in the public infrastructure that they own and operate.
On Tuesday, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Vicki-May Hamm, president of the FCM, announced support for small and medium-sized municipalities across Canada to address staffing gaps and produce lasting improvements in their operations to respond to the intensifying impacts of climate change.
Central Manitoulin will receive funding of $72,000 under the program.
“Canadians live in cleaner, healthier and safer communities when municipalities have the skills and talent they need to take action on climate change,” said Mr. Champagne. “That’s why our government is investing in programs that build the capacity of communities to reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency. These investments will result in more modern, resilient and green infrastructure so Canadians can watch their children play and grow.”
“Municipalities influence roughly half of Canada’s GHG emissions and they are already modeling some of the most innovative green initiatives in the country. But they need the resources to build on these first steps. That is why we are proud to support our local governments with this funding to help create jobs that will drive solutions and support national results,” said Ms. Hamm.
FCM’s climate change staff grants provide funding to supplement the salary of new or existing municipal employees, which will enable them to implement initiatives that increase the municipality’s capacity to adapt to climate change or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The climate change staff grants are offered through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) delivered by FCM and funded by the government of Canada.
The Government of Canada is investing $6.4 million to support 58 small to mid-sized municipalities across Canada to address staffing gaps and produce lasting improvements in their operations related to climate change.
