Tantramar switches gears in provincial environmental project funding
After three years of using the province’s Environmental Trust Fund to pay for a part-time climate change coordinator to work with town staff, the municipality is moving in a new direction this year, and has obtained a grant of just over $24,000 to produce a wetlands-themed play for youth and tour the production to local schools.
The province’s Environmental Trust Fund supports 190 environmental initiatives throughout the province, including about ten in the Tantramar region which take on things like watershed monitoring, energy efficiency, and wetlands education.
Since 2021, the town has received roughly $35,000 per year from the fund to help pay for a part-time climate change coordinator. The position was created in partnership with EOS Eco Energy, and so was never part of Tantramar’s unionized staff, but worked closely with the town’s Community and Corporate Services department.
Over the years, three different climate change coordinators have helped with research and recommendations for initiatives like electrifying the town’s vehicle fleet, coordinating the installation of solar panels on the Bill Johnstone Park building, and creating a ‘climate lens’ system in staff reporting to council.
At the end of Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, CHMA asked about the decision not to seek further funding for a part time climate change coordinator.… Continue
Climate change coordinator, watershed monitoring, wetland education, and energy retrofits in Tantramar among projects funded by NB’s Environmental Trust Fund
The province of New Brunswick has announced another year of project funding with its Environmental Trust Fund, and about $500,000 of the $8.6 million funding package will go towards 13 projects directly impacting the Tantramar region.
A large share of the funding—$190,000—will go to the Southeast Regional Services Commission for five different projects including mattress recycling, glass recycling, a re-use expo, waste education, and a program to help communities clean up illegal dump sites.
Another large share will go to EOS Eco Energy, to help fund three ongoing projects: water quality monitoring in the Rockport-Dorchester area, a program to help residents with energy retrofits for their homes, and another to help people in the Chignecto area reduce their flood risk.
EOS is also involved in a fourth project in partnership with the town of Tantramar. The town will receive $35,000 in funding towards continuing its climate change coordinator position. Corporate services director Kieran Miller shared the news with council this week, and said they would see a motion come through as soon as the province sends a formal letter of offer.
“This is the Environmental Trust Fund that we’ve applied for for the past three years to fund the climate change coordinator position,” said Miller.… Continue