Government of Canada supports climate change adaptation projects in Indigenous and northern communities

Press Release

From: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

News release

June 20, 2019 – Ottawa (Ont.) – Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Canada’s north is at the frontline of climate change. The Government of Canada is working with territorial and regional governments, Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous and northern communities to the pressing need to adapt to the impacts of climate change in the North.

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that since the program’s inception in 2016-2017 through to the end of March 2019, the Government of Canada has supported 135 projects with investments of more than $19 million through its Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program.

Funding has supported projects such as vulnerability and risk assessments, adaptation and emergency planning, infrastructure enhancements, drainage studies to address changing rainfall patterns, relocations to address erosion, hazard mapping to identify safe ice travel routes and implementation of adaptation measures across the North, including in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut and Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory.

Through the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the Government is working with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to a changing climate, and support the transition to a clean growth economy.

Quotes

“By working directly with Indigenous and northern governments and communities, the Government of Canada is contributing to enhance resilience and strengthen capacity and leadership to face the dramatic challenge of climate change.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Quick facts

• Budget 2016 and 2017 committed a total of $220.6 million to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) to create five new climate change programs as a part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
• Budget 2016 specifically allocated $19 million over five years to CIRNAC to support the assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation planning.
• Budget 2017 invested an additional $25 million over five years for the implementation of climate change adaptation measures.

Associated links

• Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program
• Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program projects 2018-19
• Indigenous Services Canada – Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
• Environment and Climate Change Canada – Climate Action Map
• Infrastructure Canada – Invest in Canada Plan

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Matthew Dillon-Leitch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca

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