MP Serré encourages Nickel Belt municipalities to apply to a new $530 million program to help communities adapt to climate change

NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY - The people of Nickel Belt deserve infrastructure that is built for healthy, affordable living, economic sustainability and the safety of homes and businesses. Dealing with the more frequent impact of floods, storms, and wildfires means planning ahead and building more resilient roads, bridges, water treatment facilities, telecommunications, evacuation routes and much more.

Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages, is encouraging Nickel Belt municipalities to apply for funding under a new climate adaption stream of the federally funded Green Municipal Fund. The new $530 million initiative, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), is called the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA).

This half-a-billion-dollar fund is designed to speed up adaptation support for resilient municipal infrastructure. It represents one of the largest ever investments in Canadian history for helping build liveable and resilient communities in preparation for climate change and is a key initiative under Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

Local municipalities know best what climate impacts they face and what are the best solutions for their unique needs. The new program will support local adaptation planning, capacity building, implementation, and financing, to help municipalities and their partners build long-term, resilient infrastructure.

The Green Municipal Fund is accepting applications through its website under the Adaptation in Action funding stream of LLCA. There are three funding buckets streams that will provide substantial support for municipalities to carry out climate adaptation projects. In addition to support for climate adaptation planning, municipalities can apply for up to $1 million for implementation projects and up to $70,000 for feasibility studies. Municipalities that have completed climate adaptation plans and/or risk assessments are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is August 14, 2024.

Quote

“Rural and Northern regions faced additional complexities with climate adaptation. This program empowers municipalities to evaluate their specific challenges and to work together with the Federal government. These partnerships can provide residents with safety and security in the face of a changing climate, and keeps families, homes and businesses sustainable and prosperous for generations to come.” Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada has invested more than $6.6 billion in adaptation since 2015. This includes $2.1 billion in commitments since fall 2022 to implement the National Adaptation Strategy and support other adaptation-related activities.
• The Green Municipal Fund manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada to support municipal environmental priorities, including the new $530 million investment in community-based adaptation initiatives.
• While all people in Canada are at risk of climate change impacts, these risks are not shared equally. Those already facing inequities in our society are among those most likely to be impacted by severe weather events. This includes marginalized groups, the elderly, and people living with disabilities. The new climate adaptation initiative will focus on advancing meaningful equity and inclusion outcomes through projects to ensure that no one is left behind.
• The Green Municipal Fund is also introducing funding for partner-led initiatives that will enable skills development and training to help local governments build more resilient communities. Eligible partners will receive funding and support to design and deliver training programs that equip municipalities with the tools they need for proactive and equitable climate resilience planning.

Associated links

• Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy
• Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan
• Green Municipal Fund
• Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities

- 30 -

Media Contact:
Kaylie Dudgeon - Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré  MP Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Energy and Natural Resources an Parliamentary Secretary of Official Languages
705-507-2416
[email protected]