THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 28, 2023
(72)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9:02 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cardozo, Clement, Dasko, Housakos, Miville-Dechêne, Quinn, Richards and Simons (8).

Participating in the meeting: Isaac Doucette and Khamla Heminthavong, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the committee continued its study on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors and the consequential impacts on their interdependencies.

WITNESSES:

Government of the Northwest Territories:

Steve Kokelj, Senior Permafrost Scientist, Northwest Territories Geological Survey, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Eva Stephani, Permafrost Research Geographer, Alaska Science Centre, US Geological Survey (by videoconference);

Jackie Dawson, Canada Research Chair (tier 1) in Human and Policy Dimensions of Climate Change, Full Professor at the University of Ottawa and Scientific Director of the ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence;

Alex de Barros, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary (by videoconference).

Steve Kokelj and Eva Stephani each made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:01 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:07 a.m., the committee resumed.

Jackie Dawson and Alex de Barros each made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:49 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Angus Wilson

Clerk of the Committee