Integrated Community Sustainable Plan
Jean Perrault, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Que. and the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant for the City of Kawartha Lakes. A $74,250 grant will be used to create a framework to develop an Integrated Community Sustainable Plan.
“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Jean Perrault, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Que. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”
“Our government is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt. ”Today’s announcement is another example of how the Government of Canada – in partnership with the FCM – is helping Kawartha Lakes build a greener future for its citizens.”
The City of Kawartha Lakes plans to develop an integrated sustainable community plan to guide the City’s economic, social, cultural and environmental decision making. It will serve as an umbrella plan for the City’s other initiatives, policies, guidelines and processes. The plan will also serve as a vehicle for community input. The project team will identify values, visions and principles based on community consultation.
A mapping exercise will review existing and planned sustainability initiatives within the community as well as municipal plans, policies and programs. Key focus areas will be identified (such as “tourism” or “energy”) and a team of cross-departmental and community stakeholders will be created around each focus area to identify the current situation and the vision for the future. The focus groups and project team will develop an action plan for each focus area. The project team will then develop an implementation and monitoring plan.
“The City of Kawartha Lakes appreciates the support of the Green Municipal Fund for our Integrated Community Sustainable Plan,” said City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Ric McGee. “Through the recent adoption of the City’s Strategic Plan we will become more environmentally conscious and seize the opportunities for growth and development in a more sustainable fashion.”
Councillor Pat Warren, who is an active member of the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee says, “The City of Kawartha Lakes can now be a truly sustainable community. I am so pleased that our Council showed vision in supporting this much needed plan and I look forward in bringing the plan to life.“
The Green Municipal Fund is an endowment financed by the Government of Canada and managed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities 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.
