Making L'Isle-Verte the First Responsible Northern Eco-Municipality in Quebec

The project is intended to revitalize L’Isle-Verte, a community of 1372 inhabitants located in the regional county municipality (RCM) of the same name, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, a short distance from Rivière-du-Loup. To deal with the closure of local businesses, an exodus of young people, and the needs of an aging population, the municipality wants to develop sustainable management and set an inspiring example for its citizens and private businesses. By developing a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP), the municipality hopes to become the first environmentally responsible northern community in Quebec. This project complements the objectives of the Rivière-du-Loup RCM and the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. It is also modelled on the Swedish eco-municipality. L’Isle-Verte wants to develop a planning model for small rural municipalities that will, among other things, take climate into account to deal with seasonal diversity. Although municipalities are beginning to consider climate change issues, practices have not been adapted to seasonal realities, other than for recreational activities. L’Isle-Verte also plans to introduce a +20% strategy (end of 2020) to reduce certain types of consumption, increase available housing and tailor it to public realities and the people who come to work in L'Isle-Verte, increase both individual and community resilience and safety, and study the relevance of creating a local development cooperative to maintain local services. The project management committee consists of a consultant and the senior managers of various municipal departments: administration, recreation and community life, public works, tourism (economy), health and environment. Each manager will be responsible for 3 to 5 indicators that will be reviewed and adjusted every year until 2020. The actions identified will focus on reducing energy consumption, conserving drinking water, managing runoff, protecting water bodies and shore environments, sustainable and active transportation, reducing GHGs, waste management, and developing sustainable green businesses. The public and local stakeholders will be part of the process. (Project description from original funding application).