Harper Government and FCM to help Mississauga turn brownfield into a sustainable waterfront community

The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and Claude Dauphin, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and mayor of the Borough of Lachine, City of Montréal, Quebec, today announced a Green Municipal Fund^TM (GMF) grant for the City of Mississauga. The city will use the $175,000 in funding to plan the revitalization of a large former industrial site on Lake Ontario.

“The Harper Government is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund,” said Minister Oliver. “Today’s announcement is another example of how our government – in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities – is helping communities like Mississauga build a greener future for their citizens.”

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

The city will develop a master plan for Inspiration Lakeview, a new sustainable mixed-use community to be developed on the eastern waterfront. The 245-acre area includes a 200-acre brownfield, the site of Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) now-demolished Lakeview Generating Station, as well as an industrial area north of the OPG lands.

In developing the master plan, Mississauga will incorporate principles outlined in its Strategic Plan and its Living Green Master Plan. The city will look to incorporate more innovative and sustainable ways to clean up the lands, such as soil re-use and recycling. Landscaped canals are proposed to help manage the community’s stormwater while providing year-round recreational opportunities. Dedicated pedestrian and bicycle lanes would be added to create a walkable community with a truly sustainable transportation network. The city will also look at ways to encourage green business development and more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly housing construction — important measures to reduce the community’s overall environmental impact.

The Inspiration Lakeview vision was built on public and stakeholder engagement. Work is now underway with OPG and the Province of Ontario to develop a shared vision for the lands. This relationship formalized the commitment among partners to work productively early in the process, opening doors to a wider range of funding opportunities and resources.

The results of this partnership will provide the foundation for a new conversation as the city invites the community back to the table to develop a more detailed master plan for the area.

“Our goal in developing a master plan for Inspiration Lakeview is to create a live-work-play environment on our waterfront,” said Mayor Hazel McCallion.  “It will be a sustainable community with something for everyone — accessible public spaces, places to experience our culture, affordable housing, and jobs.”

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.