Green Municipal Fund Commits $47,500 to the Town of Carstairs’ Sustainable Community Growth

Carstairs, AB – President Bob Hawkesworth of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), representing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and Myron Thompson, MP (Wild Rose), representing the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, announced today a $47,500 Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant for the Town of Carstairs to conduct a planning study to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is in place to support projected community growth in a sustainable manner. The Town estimates that implementing the study recommendations could help reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,200 tonnes and nitrogen oxides emissions by 150 kilograms.


“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said AUMA President Bob Hawkesworth, representing FCM. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

“Canadians want to see real results. Through the Green Municipal Fund, Canada’s new government is helping municipalities across the country deliver results,” said Myron Thompson, MP. “With projects like this and the recently announced ecoENERGY Initiatives, we are demonstrating our commitment to the health and environment of Canadians.”

The Government of Canada has endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish and manage the Green Municipal Fund. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

“The study will assess future development impacts on the Town’s ability to provide water, sewer, transportation and storm water management services,” said Mayor Lance Colby, Town of Carstairs. “It will produce a sequence for development that will take population thresholds into account and relate expected growth to land use requirements and infrastructure needs. This will enable Carstairs to decrease both operating and capital costs by planning infrastructure maintenance and future upgrades on population growth.”

The road and transportation portion of the study will include a review of bylaws and policies. It will address also the need for a more efficient transportation network to help mitigate carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide impacts. An integrated pathway system that links the various areas of the community will be considered to help reduce motor vehicle emissions.