Laval, QC - Jean Perrault, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Quebec, and Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, announced yesterday a Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant to the City of Laval. The $46,930 grant will be used to develop a local action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal government," said FCM President and Mayor of Sherbrooke Jean Perrault. "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," explained the Minister Pierre Paradis. "Today's announcement is another example of how the Government of Canada - in partnership with the FCM - is helping the City of Laval build a greener future for its citizens."
   
It was in 1997, when it became a member of Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) that the City of Laval pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and fight against climate change. With the support of the FCM, it drew up an inventory of corporative emissions and those of its Community to then establish a reduction goal and develop a local action plan.
   
The plan's main strategy aims at reducing six per cent of GHG emissions by 2015, based on the level of its emissions for the 1990 reference year. This strategy also lends support to the targets and objectives of the Quebec and Federal governments.
   
Among reduction activities suggested for the Community, the plan shall encourage its citizens to use alternative transport, purchase fuel-efficient vehicles and to reduce their heavy oil consumption or opt for bi-energy. In turn, corporations shall be encouraged to improve the energy efficiency several municipal buildings, introduce certain fuel management equipment or systems, use biofuels for their vehicle fleet and prioritize the purchase of eco-energetic vehicles.
   
"The Green Municipal Fund has enabled the City of Laval to develop a local action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that includes its citizens' cooperation to create a collective vision of a sustainable community," stated Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt.
   
The Green Municipal Fund is an endowment funded 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.

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