Just days after its launch, the Municipal Innovation Council (MIC) is off to a strong start on one of its identified priorities. The provincial government has approved the MIC’s joint submission to the Municipal Modernization Program for funding of up to $70,000. In a Town of Saugeen Shores media release, this funding will be used to begin a Waste Management Service Review, which would assist the MIC in finding efficiencies relating to waste management across all seven partner municipalities.

The goal will be to review current waste management practices, compare these to provincial and national best practices, and receive recommendations to reduce the volume of waste heading to landfills. MIC partners recognize waste management as a priority area to streamline efforts, find efficiencies, and implement cost-saving measures.

“A real value of the Municipal Innovation Council is the ability to take on projects that will benefit all of our communities, not just one,” said Jessica Linthorne, Chair of the Municipal Innovation Council. “The MIC has come together to find efficiencies in service delivery and plans to continue to leverage programs like this funding through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing," Linthorne added.

The MIC is a collaborative, three-year pilot project which will leverage the resources of the Nuclear Innovation Institute with the goal to implement efficiencies in municipal service delivery. Additional priorities of the Council include e-services (utilizing digital services and new technologies), transportation and climate change and adaptability.

MIC partners include Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Bruce County, Huron-Kinloss, Kincardine, Saugeen Shores and South Bruce.