Minister Lunn Highlights $15 Million in Green Investments For Canadian Municipalities

CALGARY - The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, praised the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) as one of the country’s most important and influential organizations at the Federation’s 70th annual conference.

“You’ve been a voice for Canadian communities for more than 100 years, and you are a major player in setting a progressive, forward-looking national agenda,” said Minister Lunn. “Sustainable communities are the foundation of a sustainable nation. That’s a goal we all aspire to - a greener, healthier Canada.”

The Minister highlighted the FCM’s Green Municipal Fund in his address, noting that it has supported more than 650 projects in communities across the country over the past seven years. The projects encourage public and private sector funding to improve air, water and soil quality, and enhance climate protection. The Government of Canada has endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish and manage the Green Municipal Fund.

Minister Lunn also joined the City of Calgary in announcing a Green Municipal Fund contribution of $350,000 to the Imagine Calgary plan, adding to more than $15 million in investments under the Fund he has announced as Minister. The comprehensive planning study is designed to address long-term urban sustainability issues in the City of Calgary.

“Imagine Calgary is just the kind of vision of working together for sustainability that inspires the ecoENERGY initiatives our Government announced this year,” said Minister Lunn. “Our ecoENERGY initiatives will help us meet the challenge of moving beyond our current position as an energy superpower to become a clean energy superpower.”

FCM’s 70th Annual Conference and Municipal Expo is taking place at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre from June 1 to 4.