Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used his keynote address at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ annual conference and trade show in the Ottawa on June 2 to unveil details of the federal government’s Smart Cities Challenge.
“Today the fed govt is introducing the smart cities challenge to give you a platform to dream big, innovate and implement bold ideas,” he said.
“We’re inviting communities across Canada to develop ambitious plans to improve the lives of their residents and help us build the Canada of the future,” the Prime Minister added.
Announced in Budget 2017, the initiative aims to fund community projects in a number of different areas (more HERE). They range from fibre to the home to energy related programs. On the latter, Trudeau noted that applicable projects could include smart electricity distribution networks and renewable energy to serve both residential and business customers.
Communities are expected to work in collaboration with businesses and innovators to develop their submissions “and the most promising design will receive funding to bring those ideas to life,” he said to a packed house at the Shaw Centre located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital.
The challenge will be conducted three times with the first beginning this fall. In each edition, five projects will receive funding.
“The best project will win $50 million. Two smaller communities with big ideas will receive $10 million and one smaller or rural, remote community will win $5 million,” the Prime Minister said.
“An additional $5 million will also be given to a project for the Indigenous community,” added Trudeau.
More details on the program and the parameters for submitting applications will be released this fall when the Smart Cities Challenge is expected to launch.
For more on Budget 2017, refer to the following articles on Canadian Green Tech: