FCM's Green Municipal Fund supports the MRC of La Côte-de-Beaupré's Towards a
Healthy Region project

The project can serve as model for other MRCs

LA CÔTE-DE-BEAUPRÉ MRC, QC, Sept. 28 /CNW/ - Michel Morin, member of FCM's National Board of Directors and mayor of Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a Green Municipal Fund^™ (GMF) grant contribution for the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) of La Côte-de-Beaupré. The MRC put the $287,500 in funding toward establishing an innovative development plan that can serve as model for other MRCs.

"FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments," said Mr. Morin. "The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."

"The Government of Canada is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund," said Mr. Paradis. "Today's announcement is another example of how our government — in partnership with FCM — is helping the MRC of La Côte-de-Beaupré build a greener future for our citizens."

Situated on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River between Québec City and the Charlevoix region and spanning a territory nearly 5,000 square kilometres, the MRC would like to manage the real estate boom the region is experiencing in a more sustainable way, strengthen cohesion and a sense of community, rejuvenate the local tourist industry, and engage in dialogue with various regional partners and the public. Through these activities, the MRC wants to ensure the protection of the environment, improve water and waste management, encourage sustainable transportation and implement energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction projects.

To achieve these goals, the MRC will develop a plan that will embed sustainable development concerns into a Strategic Plan and into the Land-Use Planning and Development Plan. This will be supported through stricter integration of environmental considerations than those provided by the province's Loi sur l'aménagement et l'urbanisme du Québec, and will ensure that the shared vision and sustainable development principles of the MRC's residents and key stakeholders are integrated into the plan.

Community consultation and communication activities will take place throughout the planning process. Among other things, the MRC intends to set up an interactive website. Communications will play an essential role in this initiative.

This sustainable development plan initiative is a first for an MRC in Québec and can serve as a model for other MRCs.

"We're very proud to demonstrate our leadership with this innovative, promising and unifying initiative designed to improve the quality of life of our citizens! Our integrated planning approach requires additional costs to carry out activities such as an in-depth regional diagnosis, interactive and innovative communications and consultations, as well as to set up an action tracking system. From discussion to implementation, our planning initiative will encourage responsible stewardship of our region by considering issues such as the protection and enhancement of the seaway and its shoreline, production and use of renewable energies, protection and enhancement of the agricultural community, and planning for sustainable transportation. We thank the FCM for its invaluable support. We'd also like to thank all partners for their support now and in the future," said Pierre Lefrançois, warden of the MRC of La Côte-de-Beaupré.

The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish 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.

FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.

For further information:

MRC of La Côte-de-Beaupré

Anne-Marie-A Savoie
Tel.: [phone], ext. 222
Cell: 418-9347448
E-mail: [email protected]

FCM's Green Municipal Fund

Maurice Gingues
Media Relations Officer
Green Municipal Fund
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail:  [email protected]
www.fcm.ca/gmf

Natural Resources Canada

Richard Walker
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Tel.: [phone]

Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Tel.: [phone]