Minister Vandal announces funding in support of climate change adaptation project in Cambridge Bay

News release

August 9, 2022 — Cambridge Bay, Nunavut — Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

A community-led project in the hamlet of Cambridge Bay is taking steps to adapt to climate change by assessing impacts on the Northstar residential and commercial development areas and planning for a changing environment.

The Northstar Climate Readiness Plan project is carrying out a master drainage plan and a snow study that are analyzing how to best manage water and snow in the Northstar development area. The studies’ results will then be used for land use planning, policy and construction, with the goal of implementing design changes and adaptive measures to improve livability, safety and climate resilience in these future neighbourhoods.

Today, together with His Worship, Mayor Angulalik Pederson, Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, NU, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, announced $157,765 in funding to the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay for this project through the Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program.

This project will provide the environmental and climate change knowledge needed to guide all future development in the area, while reducing infrastructure and maintenance costs, leading to more sustainable and secure housing.

Indigenous, northern, and Arctic communities are seeing the impacts of climate change and that local understanding plays a critical role in infrastructure planning and emergency management, particularly those where climate change affects flooding risks and ground stability.

The Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program supports projects led by Indigenous and northern communities and governments to increase their capacity to adapt to climate change.

This includes support to assess a community’s vulnerability to climate change factors such as changing ice conditions, permafrost degradation, coastal erosion, flooding, and wildfires on the natural environment and infrastructure portfolio. This program also supports communities and governments to address climate change as part of community planning and to implement appropriate measures to respond to various impacts.

Quotes

“As we begin to experience the impacts of a changing environment in the north, it is important for the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay to identify ways to adapt to climate change. Completing the Northstar Climate Readiness project will allow the Hamlet to mitigate drainage and snow drifting issues and will provide the information needed to guide future development in Cambridge Bay.”

Mayor Angulalik Pedersen,
Hamlet of Cambridge Bay

“Indigenous and northern communities are seeing and experiencing the devastating effects of climate change, and it’s crucial that they have the tools needed to adapt to the changing environment. This project will play an important role in supporting the growing housing needs of the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay with climate-resilient infrastructure development as we keep working toward our climate goals.”

The Honourable Daniel Vandal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Northern Affairs

Quick facts

  • The Climate Change Preparedness in the North program funds climate change adaptation projects in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut and Eeyou Istchee territory. To date, the Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program has invested more than $53 million in 284 projects across the North.

  • Budget 2016 allocated $21.4 million for the first five years and $3.5 million annually afterward for Climate Change Preparedness in the North. Budget 2017 allocated an additional $55.9 million over eleven years to support the assessment of climate change impacts and implementation of adaptation measures in the North.

  • So far in 2022–2023, the program has provided $13 million to fund 52 projects across Nunavut.

Associated links

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Kyle Allen
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Daniel Vandal
Minister of Northern Affairs
819-953-1153

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

Jim MacEachern
Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of Cambridge Bay
Phone: 867-983-4650
Mobile: 867-983-5582
jmaceachern@cambridgebay.ca

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