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 multi-year,
$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
