QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
National Adaptation Strategy
February 13, 2024
Senator Gold, the Insurance Bureau of Canada recently reported that 2023 was the fourth most expensive weather year in history, with over $3 billion in insured damages, including approximately $1.4 billion in damages caused by the wildfires out west, $690 million from severe summer storms, $335 million in damages from Nova Scotia wildfires and floods and $330 million from last April’s ice storm in Ontario and Quebec. These numbers don’t include the toll on human health and lives lost.
Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy on climate was introduced last year. It’s meant to help Canadians and our communities reduce the impact of climate-related disasters.
Senator Gold, this is urgent. Can you tell us what progress is being made in the implementation of the adaptation strategy?
Thank you for this very important question. The government has made significant investments and progress to prepare for, to respond to and to recover from climate-related disasters. Let me cite just a few of the many initiatives.
We are reducing the risks of wildfire in our communities by investing up to $284 million over five years to enhance community prevention and mitigation activities, support innovation and wildland fire knowledge and research, as well as establishing a Centre of Excellence for Wildland Fire Innovation and Resilience. We are investing up to $60 million over five years to accelerate the use of climate-informed code standards and guidelines for resilient infrastructure in Canada. We are expanding the Green Municipal Fund by up to $530 million to support community-based adaptation initiatives in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
These are a few of the initiatives under the National Adaptation Strategy. I’ve been informed that the government is committed to continue delivering progress on these programs.
Thank you, Senator Gold.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada also reported that 1.5 million households across Canada are unable to afford flood insurance. They’ve called on the federal government to follow through on its promise to create a national flood insurance program. When can we expect this flood insurance program to be implemented?
Thank you. I’m not in the position, of course, to comment on any future budget initiatives that may apply to this area. However, the government has already invested up to $31.7 million over three years to protect households at high risk of flooding and without access to adequate insurance. This is in addition to ensuring that Canadians have access to free up-to-date and high-quality flood hazard maps through investments of $164 million and the collaboration with provinces and territories to increase our resilience.
