Minister McKenna visits Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
News Release
Minister McKenna visits Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
July 12, 2016 – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – Environment and Climate Change Canada
From July 11-12, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, travelled to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories to gain knowledge and raise awareness of climate change issues in northern and Indigenous communities. Working in partnership with Indigenous peoples in Canada is a Government of Canada priority. If Canada is to be successful in achieving its climate change objectives, a federal partnership with all Canadians, including Indigenous peoples is crucial.
Minister McKenna met with her counterparts, the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources Government of Northwest Territories, Wally Schumann, the Minister of the Environment Government of Yukon, Wade Istchenko, and the Minister of the Environment Government of Nunavut, Joe Savikataaq, to discuss climate change priorities in the north.
She also took part in a roundtable discussion with Northwest Territories Indigenous leaders and representatives. The following day, Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian and Tłįchǫ Government Senior Advisor John B. Zoe gave the Minister a tour of the proposed Edezhie National Wildlife Area, providing insight into 14,200 km2 of important wildlife habitat that will be conserved.
Minister McKenna also participated in a climate change town hall co-hosted by Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories and the City of Yellowknife. Approximately 170 stakeholders and Yellowknife citizens provided important and thoughtful ideas that will contribute to the development of Canada's approach on a Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
The feedback will be posted to Canada's climate change interactive website. This website is an open and transparent space for all Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, to submit their ideas on how to address climate change and read what others are saying.
Minister McKenna meets with the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources for the Government of Northwest Territories Wally Schumann, the Minister of the Environment for the Government of Yukon Wade Istchenko, and the Minister of the Environment for the Government of Nunavut, Joe Savikataaq in Yellowknife, NT, for the Northern Summit.
Minister McKenna addresses the crowd during a town hall on climate change hosted by MP Michael McLeod in Yellowknife, NT.
Quote
"My meetings in Yellowknife were extremely constructive and gave me a greater understanding and appreciation of the first-hand knowledge indigenous peoples and communities have to help us address climate change here in the North, but also to develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to its impacts globally."
– The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Associated links
Contacts
Caitlin Workman
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-938-9436
Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Twitter page
Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's facebook page
Environment and Climate Change Canada on Flickr (only if there are photos related to the news release)
Search for related information by keyword
Hon. Catherine McKenna Environment and Climate Change Canada Nature and Environment