The Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh has announced an opportunity for municipalities to get support on climate adaptation.
Irek Kusmierczyk announced Friday morning that the federal government's Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation Fund is now accepting applications.
Kusmierczyk made the announcement outside the St. Paul Pumping Station in east Windsor.
The $530-million fund is designed to fast-track climate adaptation for various types of infrastructure. Kusmierczyk called it one of the most ambitious programs in Canadian history.
"Whether it was the devastating once-in-a-century storms in 2016 and 2017, or the wildfire smoke that filled our sky last summer, Windsor-Essex continues to experience first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change," said Kusmierczyk. "I look forward to partnering with our local municipalities to secure funding from this important new initiative delivered by our federal government."
Under the program, there are three funding streams providing climate adaptation support for municipalities. Besides climate adaptation planning, municipalities can also apply for up to $1-million for implementation and up to $70,000 for feasibility studies.
The application stream is now open, with the deadline for municipalities to apply being August 14. Communities with climate adaptation plans or risk assessments are eligible.