Financial incentive programs and packages are often required
to assist on the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites and
to level the playing field between brownfield redevelopment and greenfield
development. Incentives assist developers overcome some of the barriers
that may be encountered in the remediation and redevelopment process.
The MRIF was announced by the Government of Canada in May 2007,
to ensure continuity of funding particularly for small communities
to address infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater,
roads and transit. (http://www.infc.gc.ca/ip-pi/mrif-fimr/mrif-fimr-eng.html)
Alberta
Environment Security Fund - Reclamation security is required
under Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and
the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation.
Energy
Innovation Fund -The Alberta government has dedicated $200 million
over three years towards research, advanced technologies, market
development and innovative projects focusing on energy supply and
protection of the environment.
Petroleum
Tank Site Remediation Program - This program provided funding
from October 2000 to March 31, 2009 to eligible municipalities and
owners of small retail gas stations with potential contamination
from underground petroleum storage tanks. Effective April 1, 2009,
due to funding pressures the program stopped accepting applications.
Tax Increment Financing - Community Revitalization Levy (CRL)
- A CRL is a specially designated area that is established with
the overall intent of hastening the redevelopment of property within
the area.
Upstream Oil and Gas Orphan Fund (formerly Well Abandonment Fund)
- The Orphan Fund is fully funded by the oil and gas industry through
a levy based on a licensees share of its deemed liabilities to total
industry deemed liabilities.
BC
Brownfield Renewal Funding - The BC Brownfield Renewal Funding
Program is designed to help to revitalize inactive or unused lands
across British Columbia by reducing the risk and uncertainty normally
associated with these types of sites. The Program will contribute
funding to land owners or developers for environmental investigations
and related activities on brownfield sites where market forces have
not achieved redevelopment and where it is possible to achieve triple-bottom-line
benefits.
Community
Revitalization Tax Increment Financing Plan (Community Revitalization
Fund) - When a property is assigned for "community revitalization",
increases in its assessed value are subject to a community revitalization
levy. Money raised by the community revitalization levy is to be
paid into a new Community Revitalization Fund. This fund will be
used to make grants to help revitalize communities and neighborhoods
(including the clean up of brownfield sites); to encourage economic,
social, and cultural development; and to preserve heritage properties.
Manitoba Cleanup Plan - The province set aside $39 million for
environmental stewardship, part of a larger $165-million program
to address government-owned sites and abandoned or orphaned sites
(Feb. 2009).
Comprehensive
Plan for Brownfield Redevelopment in New Brunswick (released
December 16, 2008). The actions proposed in the plan focus on making
it easier to remediate and redevelop brownfield properties without
changing the existing high standards of environmental protection.
Regional / Sectoral Diversification Fund - provides non-repayable
contributions to eligible organizations for the development and
implementation of economic initiatives that address regional and
sectoral development.
The Contaminated Sites directorate manages contaminated sites located
on Crown land in Nunavut that fall under Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada's control. There are a number of sites in Nunavut under other
federal control such as the Department of National Defense.
Brownfields
Financial Tax Incentive Program (BFTIP) - Allows municipalities
to provide property tax assistance to property owners for the purposes
of environmental rehabilitation of brownfields properties within
an approved Community Improvement Plan (CIP) project area.
Business Improvement Areas (BIA)- A strong BIA is a tool that
can improve the local investment climate and help street front businesses
adapt to shifting economic trends.
Community
Improvement Plans (CIPs) - Allows municipalities to set out
the municipal policy framework for the rehabilitation of existing
built-up areas. They may also include municipal financial assistance
programs related to land, grants, loans and tax assistance that
are intended to encourage and stimulate private sector investment
in municipal priority areas.
Municipal
Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006 (Bill 130) - Removes Provincial
Crown Liens where a municipality chooses to assume ownership
of a property that has failed a tax sale. Municipalities are now
also able to advertise eligible brownfield properties as “free
and clear” of all provincial crown liens upon sale. This legislation
also removed provincial oversight on CIPs to reduce excess time
delays in getting municipal incentive programs in the plan.
Rural
Economic Development (RED) - The RED program assists with the
costs of projects that use the power of partnership to create change.
The partners might be individuals, businesses, organizations, or
municipal governments. They share a common goal: to breathe new
life into rural communities, make more opportunities to develop
skills, and improve access to health care.
Community Infrastructure Funding - Projects that construct or materially
rehabilitate public infrastructure that contributes to: removal or
neutralization of the negative effects of brownfields on communities
and environment by remediating and redeveloping these properties in
a sustainable manner; and support more intense land use within cities
and communities.
The ClimatSol
Program (French only) established in the fall of 2007, replaces
the ReviSol program that ended in 2006. ClimatSol encourages the rehabilitation
of contaminated lands in Quebec municipalities. It aims to integrate
elements within redevelopment projects that will have a real and measurable
impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or that will increase
the energy efficiency of buildings. While ReviSol focused strictly
on redevelopment, ClimatSol will expand its efforts to uphold the
rules of the Kyoto Protocol and require all eligible projects to provide
for the retention or creation of surface vegetation or, in the case
of construction projects, employ green building technologies to reduce
energy consumption (2007-2010).
Saskatchewan
Cleanup of Abandoned Northern Sites (CLEANS) - a multiyear, $47.9
million project—will assess and reclaim Gunnar, Lorado and 36
satellite mine sites. The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is managing
the project and will communicate regularly with local northern and
Aboriginal communities. Funding is being provided by the governments
of Canada and Saskatchewan.
In the Yukon, the responsibility
for managing contaminated sites is guided by the requirements of the
Devolution Transfer Agreement between the federal and Yukon governments.
The Building
Canada Fund (BCF) is the Government of Canada's flagship infrastructure
program established in 2008. It advances national priorities that
are important to all Canadians: a stronger economy, a cleaner environment,
and better communities, while addressing local and regional infrastructure
needs. The national priority funding categories for the BCF are: Core
National Highway System, Drinking Water, Wastewater, Public Transit
and Green Energy. Eligible categories include Brownfield Remediation
and Redevelopment.
The EcoAction
Community Funding Program encourages project submissions that
will protect, rehabilitate or enhance the natural environment, and
build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities into
the future. ECAF provides financial support to community-based, non-profit
organizations for projects that have measurable, positive impacts
on the environment. Projects require matching funds or in-kind support
from other sponsors. EcoAction supports projects that address the
following themes: Climate Change; Clean Water; Nature; and Clean Air.
The maximum amount available per project is $100,000. The new deadline
for submission of proposals is November 1st of each year.
The EDF
manages funds received as compensation for environmental damage. It
uses money from pollution penalties and settlements to fund projects
in the same community in which the pollution has occurred. The EDF
is administered through regional offices and is eligible to non-governmental
organizations (such as community based environmental groups), Universities,
Aboriginal groups, Provincial, territorial and municipal governments.
Federal
Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Funding - FCSAP was established
as a 15-year program in 2005 with a commitment of over $3.5 billion
from the Government of Canada. This program provides assistance to
federal departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations
that are custodians of known or suspected contaminated sites to evaluate
these sites and deal with the environmental and health risks they
may pose. It also contributes to training and to promoting innovative
technologies to clean up ("remediate") or deal with contaminated
sites. Federal contaminated sites include ports, military bases, leaking
fuel storage depots on reserve lands, and abandoned mines on federal
Crown land in the North. These funds are however not applicable to
provincial, municipal or privately owned brownfield redevelopment
projects.
The Federal Government has taken
steps to allow removal of Crown Liens and Tax Arrears on a case-by-case
basis - Finance Canada plays an important role in developing criteria
for the removal of outstanding tax liens on properties. Federal liens
that remain on derelict properties serve as a significant deterrent
for individuals who wish to purchase the land for the purpose of redevelopment.
CMHC's Mortgage Loan Insurance
helps lenders offer developers access to competitively priced financing
for the acquisition, remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites
with as little as 15% down.
FCM's Green Municipal Fund™ (GMF)
is a unique program that supports municipal initiatives across Canada
that benefit the environment, local economies and quality of life.
GMF grants and below-market loans directly support municipal initiatives,
while GMF education and training resources help municipal governments
share expertise and strengthen their ability to set and surpass their
sustainable goals. The Government of Canada endowed the Federation
of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish GMF.
The Fund provides grants for brownfield studies and low-interest loans
for capital projects. For further information visit FCM-GMF at www.sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca
The SD Tech Fund™ supports
the late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of technology
solutions that contribute to clean air, clean water and clean land,
address climate change and improve the productivity and the global
competitiveness of the Canadian industry. While not specifically targeted,
brownfield projects are eligible for funding. Funds available:
Grants up to 50 per cent of eligible costs (average is 33 per cent).
www.sdtc.ca
