Media Advisory

HRM Co-Hosts Sustainability Workshop

(Wednesday, December 14, 2005) - Halifax Regional Municipality, along with Jacques Whitford Environmental Ltd., will be hosting a Community Sustainability Planning Workshop tomorrow.

The workshop is being offered to members of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and other Maritime communities. The main purpose of the workshop is to explore sustainability planning in the context of the Federal Gas Tax Agreements being signed with provincial governments. The workshop will help municipalities ensure they get maximum benefits from the federal government’s New Deal for Cities and Communities.

Under the New Deal for Cities and Communities, the federal government has committed to the transfer of a portion of Federal Gas Tax Revenues to municipalities for environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructures.

The Halifax workshop brings together speakers from the federal and provincial governments, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, universities and several municipalities that have already implemented sustainability initiatives.

The distinguished panel of speakers and more than 50 municipal representatives will also examine opportunities to develop sustainable communities.

The concept of sustainability has become a recognized necessity, but also a significant challenge for many communities.

HRM is already in the first rank of Canadian municipalities making a practical commitment to achieve genuine sustainability objectives.

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For further information please contact:

Stephen King
Manager-Senior Advisor, HRM Environmental Management Services
(902) 490-6188