NEWS RELEASE
GREEN MUNICIPAL FUNDS TO DISBURSE $20 MILLION
FOR THE HALIFAX HARBOUR SOLUTIONS PROJECT
(December 21, 2004, Halifax, NS) – Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) Mayor Peter Kelly, New Glasgow Mayor Ann MacLean, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the Honourable Geoff Regan, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, announced today the disbursement to the HRM of a $20 million Green Municipal Investment Fund (GMIF) 10-year low-interest loan to help finance the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project’s new sewage treatment plants. An innovative feature of the GMIF loan is the commitment by the HRM to reinvest the interest savings in the HRM’s new Sustainable Community Reserve Fund, which will be the launch pad to move priority environmental projects forward, maximizing environmental benefits to the community at no net financial impact to HRM taxpayers.
“One of the biggest targets for the Reserve is projects aimed at pollution prevention at the source,” said Mayor Kelly. “Through internal programs and external partnerships, enabled through Reserve funding, HRM plans to mitigate the impact of its new sewer treatment plants tied into the Harbour Project through ‘at source’ pollution prevention.”
Benefits will include improved water quality for Halifax Harbour and area lakes and streams, a better quality of biosolids recovered from the sewage treatment process for beneficial uses, and reduced impacts on the new sewage treatment plants.
“I am very pleased that FCM is supporting this project,” said FCM President Mayor Ann MacLean. “In addition to the direct and immediate contribution to improved water quality in Halifax Harbour, the Sustainable Community Reserve Fund will provide longer term environmental benefits relating to better planning practices and programs to get residents and business owners in the region involved in reducing environmental impact.”
“Through the Green Municipal Funds we are committed to helping municipal governments develop new approaches to use resources wisely and improve services,” said the Honourable Geoff Regan. “These challenges are a shared responsibility and through the Green Municipal Funds we are pleased to help advance the economic, environmental and social well-being of communities across Canada.”
The Reserve will also help the HRM fund a feasibility study for a co-generation-district energy plant for peninsula Halifax that could bring massive air quality benefits, including the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 metric tonnes per year. In addition, HRM's public buildings and fleet, including Metro Transit, will be able to proceed with bio-fuel, recycled fuel, particulate emission reduction, and energy efficiency initiatives through Reserve funding.
Other key Reserve projects include: a comprehensive region-wide public education and awareness program on reduced idling; partnership development aimed at public education on proper septic field and tank maintenance in HRM’s rural areas, which is of paramount importance in a regional city with over 40% of residential properties with on-site systems; a Commuter Trip Reduction Program; and, safer links for bicyclists to access the Angus L. Macdonald bridge spanning Halifax Harbour.
The Government of Canada has endowed $250 million to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to establish and manage the Green Municipal Funds. The Funds support partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.
FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.
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For information:
Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
Mayor Ann MacLean
President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
(902) 755-7788
Stephen King
Manager/Senior Advisor, HRM Environmental Management Services
(902) 490-6188
For more information on the Green Municipal Funds, including details of other approved projects and studies, visit FCM ’s Knowledge Network at http://kn.fcm.ca
Also, please visit FCM’s main website at www.fcm.ca for information on all Federation activities.
