2024-2025 Departmental Plan
Up-Front Multi-Year Funding

General information on up‑front multi‑year funding to Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Recipient information: Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT)

For more information, please visit the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust site.

Start date: February 2000

End date: In perpetuity

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians have clean water

Link to department’s program inventory: Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Creation of an endowment fund for the CBT, which is the cornerstone of the Clayoquot Sound United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve. The CBT will use the income from the endowment fund to support local research, education, and training in the Biosphere Reserve region.

Total funding approved (dollars): $12 million

Total funding received (dollars): $12 million (in 2000)

Planned funding in 2024–25 (dollars): $0

Planned funding in 2025–26 (dollars): $0

Planned funding in 2026–27 (dollars): $0

Summary of recipient’s annual plans:

During 2023-24, the CBT will focus on the following objectives and deliverables:

• Deliver a range of grants for regional initiatives in the areas of research and environment, arts and culture, community development, youth and education, and conservation research.
• Publish a Vital Signs report for the Biosphere Region and communicate the report to local partners including residents, employers, networks, and governments.
• Proceed with the development of the Biosphere Centre - a social purpose, mixed-use building to serve as a permanent office for the CBT and a regional hub for communities, organizations, and researchers.
• Install wayfinding and interpretive signage communicating the significance of the UNESCO Biosphere designation to locals and visitors.
• Increase regional land use information sharing and decision making with a focus on biodiversity conservation.
• Co-develop stewardship and restoration projects with First Nations that meaningfully contribute to the conservation of biodiversity within the Biosphere Region.

General information on upfront multiyear funding to Green Municipal Fund

Recipient information: Green Municipal Fund (GMF)

For more information, please visit the Green Municipal Fund site.

Start date: February 2000

End date: No end date

Link to departmental result(s):

• Canadian greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant emissions are reduced.
• Canadian communities, economies, and ecosystems are more resilient.

Link to department’s program inventory: Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Between 2000 and 2018, the Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $50 million for grants and $625 million for endowment funding to administer a revolving fund for grants, loans, and loan guarantees to encourage investment in municipal environmental projects. Of this $675 million, $337.5 million was provided through ECCC. As per Budget 2019, the Government of Canada, through Natural Resources Canada, transferred an additional $950 million to the FCM for the GMF. Since its inception, the total amount transferred from the Government of Canada for the GMF amounts to $1.625 billion.

The GMF was established to enhance the health and the quality of life of Canadians. Currently, the GMF focuses on improving air, water, and soil quality, and on addressing climate change through greenhouse gas emissions reductions. GMF also supports renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. To meet these objectives, GMF provides financial and operational support for feasibility studies, pilot projects, capital projects, and capacity development activities within the municipal sector.

In 2024-25, The Government of Canada, through ECCC, will provide an additional up-front payment of $530 million to expand the GMF and establish the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative. The LLCA will be operated by FCM and will help municipalities adapt to the impacts of climate change. The LLCA will be comprised of three distinct components: (1) Climate-Ready Plans and Processes, to integrate climate resilience into municipal plans, processes, and management systems; (2) Adaptation through Action, to accelerate the implementation of equitable adaptation action in communities; and (3) Financing Adaptation, to pilot innovative financing mechanisms to attract greater private sector participation in adaptation.  

The overall outcomes of LLCA will be to improve municipal capacity to plan and build resilient communities; address priority climate risks in communities across Canada; and enable regional leadership and collaboration.

Total funding approved (dollars): $337,500,000

Total funding received (dollars): $337,500,000

Planned funding in 2024–25 (dollars): $530,000,000

Planned funding in 2025–26 (dollars): $0

Planned funding in 2026–27 (dollars): $0

Summary of recipient’s annual plans:

For more information see:

Together for the Future – GMF Annual Report 2022-23

• The GMF’s Annual Report 2022-23 (AR) places significant emphasis on the planning and design process for the LLCA initiative. GMF intends to support, accelerate, and scale up community-based climate adaptation initiatives.
• The GMF’s 2022-23 AR outlines plans to support ambitious climate mitigation activities by municipalities and declares an intent to support Canadian municipalities in leading the way in achieving Canada’s climate targets.
• GMF’s 2022-23 AR establishes plans to put incremental focus on embedding anti-racism, equity, and inclusion practices throughout GMF’s processes and programs.

Plans to catalyze investment from the financial sector, given that municipal needs far outstrip the resources available in public funds.