Government of Canada Supporting First Nation Communities to Assess and Respond to a Changing Climate

From: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

News release

May 24, 2019 — Ottawa (Ont.) — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The impacts of climate change are being felt across Canada, with significant implications for First Nation communities who are particularly at risk due to their location, infrastructure needs and close ties to the land. The Government of Canada is working with First Nation community leaders across the country to assess and respond to the impacts of climate change.

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that the Government of Canada has supported 111 projects across southern Canada with investments of more than $18 million through its First Nation Adapt program as of March 2019. The funding supports projects that build the capacity of First Nation communities to address impacts on community infrastructure and emergency preparedness caused by rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding, forest fires, drought, winter road failures and other factors resulting from our changing climate.   

Through Canada's climate action plan, 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

"First Nation communities are experiencing the impacts of climate change right now and we are working together to develop solutions to address the challenge. We know that there is much more work to do, and we will continue to address the impact climate change is already having on infrastructure and the health of Indigenous peoples across the country."

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

Quick facts

  • Budget 2016 and 2017 committed $220.6 million to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to create five new climate change programs as a part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

  • Budget 2016 and 2017 invested $52.3 million through 2021-2022 for various initiatives under the First Nation Adapt program.

  • Budget 2019 committed $48 million over four years, starting in 2020-21, to protect First Nation communities from climate-related hazards, and help with emergency response and recovery.

Associated links

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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