DANIELLE MILLEY
Feb 18, 2010 - 3:28 PM
Toronto goes green with a funding boost
Toronto is going to find going greener a little easier thanks to an infusion of green from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Basil Stewart, president of FCM, was in town last week to announce nearly $7 million in grants and loans from the Green Municipal Fund. The funding is going towards 15 plans, studies and capital projects in the city ranging from environmental site assessments of brown field properties to the construction of a LEED certified conference centre at Exhibition Place.
"I'm very pleased to be here to celebrate $7 million in funding for 15 projects in the City of Toronto," he said.
The announcement was made at Evergreen Brick Works, which is a recipient of one of the grants. Evergreen, a non-profit organization, is currently completing a $55-million redevelopment of the Don Valley Brick Works site. The $50,000 grant is to assist in developing approaches to on-site brown field remediation at the site.
"The Brick Works site is an excellent example of how an industrial site can be turned into a centre for education and research," said Mayor David Miller. "Green Municipal Funds are a remarkable exchange of a partnership between our national government and city and towns that work."
Federal Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Peter Kent was also on hand for the announcement.
"There's no question this type of investment is essential, especial today," he said. "(It's) setting the foundation for a more prosperous tomorrow and not just a more prosperous tomorrow, but a cleaner tomorrow."
Stewart commended Toronto on the work it has already done to green the city.
"Today's celebration serves as proof of your commitment to environmental stewardship," Stewart said. "Toronto has been a great recipient and champion of the fund since its inception."
Kent praised FCM and Toronto.
"Our government is proud to support your initiatives through projects like the Green Municipal Fund," he said. "You're showing us what needs to be done, but more importantly you're showing us how we can do it."
Other projects to receive funding include a $345,000 grant to test the use of LED lighting at Exhibition Place; a $90,000 grant and $600,000 loan towards the transformation of the TTC's historic Wychwood streetcar repair barns into the Green Arts Barns; a $300,000 grant and a $2 million loan for the recently completed LEED silver-certified Toronto Police Service training facility in Etobicoke; and a $346,500 grant for the Mayor's Tower Renewal Initiative.
"As you know this project is close to my heart," Miller said of the tower project. "We would be unable to do these projects without our national and FCM partners."
The grant will help the tower renewal project conduct a study of four pilot sites that could lead to both reductions in energy consumption and potable water use.
"These projects are delivering significant environmental benefits for their communities," Stewart said.
The Green Municipal Fund was created 10 years ago and in that time has contributed almost $49 million in grants and below market loans to fund environmental studies, plans and capital projects in Toronto.
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