Up‑front multi‑year funding

• Clean technologies and energy efficiencies enhance economic performance
• Canada’s natural resources are sustainable

The GMF is a revolving fund administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). It supports grants, loans, and loan guarantees to encourage investment in environmental municipal projects. The Government of Canada endowed the FCM with a total value of $1,625 million for this initiative through a series of budget decisions beginning in 2000 through to 2019.

The GMF was established to enhance Canadians’ quality of life by improving air, water, soil quality, and protecting the climate. Eligible projects may fall into one or more of the following categories: brownfields, energy, transportation, waste and water. Projects may take the form of plans, feasibility studies, pilot projects, and capital projects.

The amount of GMF financing available for municipal projects is directly related to the environmental benefits or innovativeness of the project, while taking into account economic and social considerations. For the carrying-out of studies, assessments, sustainable community plans, and pilot projects: grants up to eighty percent (80%) of Eligible Project Costs are available. For the execution of any other Eligible Projects where environmental, economic or social benefits are deemed to be exceptional, as defined by the Board on the recommendation of the Council: grants, loans (at fixed interest rates no lower than the Government of Canada bond rate for equivalent terms up to thirty (30) years minus two percent (2%)) and/or loan guarantees to an Eligible Recipient in respect of an Eligible Project may, in combination, be up to (80%) of Eligible Project Costs. For greater certainty, for the purposes of these exceptional circumstances, the value of the grants shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of Eligible Project Costs.

As stipulated in the GMF Funding Agreement between the FCM and the Government of Canada, the FCM has created two advisory bodies: the GMF Advisory Council and the Peer Review Committee. The GMF Council’s role is to assist the FCM Board of Directors, the decision-making body for the GMF, in approving projects proposed by municipalities. The fifteen member GMF Council includes five federal members: two from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), two from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and one from Infrastructure Canada (INFC). All federal members are appointed by the FCM Board of Directors based on recommendations from the Minister of ECCC or the Minister of NRCan.