Overview  of Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF)

The Goal of LEAF

To reduce, or repair, Kitchener’s impact on the environment focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gases, and to enhance the ability of the Kitchener community to live sustainably into the future.

History of LEAF

In 2007, Kitchener city council approved the creation of a $5 million environmental fund called the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF). The fund recognizes the community’s desire to focus more effort and resources on Kitchener’s environment; and it can be a key tool in creating an optimal environment over the next several years. LEAF is intended to operate as a catalyst to leverage participation and investment by all stakeholders in the community to improve the environment.

The $5 million in catalyst funding for the new LEAF fund is provided by:

• $2 million from the Hydro Capital Investment Fund, generated by the return on the city’s investment in the Kitchener Power Corporation and its subsidiaries.
• $1 million annually in each of the years from 2008-2010 from the Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF).

Funds are limited – $4 million as of 2009 and a further $1 million in 2010.

Projects or programs funded by LEAF

The city held public workshops to engage citizens in the update of its Strategic Plan for the Environment, and seek their input on the criteria and operating characteristics of LEAF in December 2009. Directly resulting from public input were criteria including the stipulation that projects or programs funded by LEAF must:

• Contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases produced by the city’s own operations and/or the community at large; AND
• Increase public awareness of the environmental impact of the actions of municipal governments, communities, businesses, families and/or individuals, and promote changed behaviour at this local level. AND
• Provide a long-term, sustainable benefit to Kitchener.
  AND accomplish one or more of the following:
  • Contribute to enhanced local air quality;
  • Result in reduced energy use, increased energy efficiency, increased use of alternative energy sources;
  • Increase city-ownership of significant natural lands where other techniques for acquisition have not succeeded;
  • Provide capital enhancements to city-owned and city-managed natural lands over and above what would occur as part of normal city procedures;
  • Facilitate capital improvements that will make existing communities more complete and residents of those communities less dependant on the automobile.