The Government of Canada is providing $318,000 over three years to the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association (ACWWA) for a climate change adaptation project in Atlantic Canada.
The announcement about the investment was made by Sean Casey, member of parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s minister of natural resources.
“The impacts of climate change are being felt across Prince Edward Island and across the country,” said Casey. “They pose a risk to our infrastructure, communities, economy, and environment. Our government is pleased to support the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association’s efforts to incorporate climate change adaptation into guidelines for municipal water and wastewater infrastructure in the region.”
Funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE) Program, the ACWWA’s project involves incorporating climate change adaptation into design guidelines for municipal water and wastewater infrastructure in Atlantic Canada. Training for professionals — such as public works and utility engineers, and consulting engineers — will also be delivered to build their awareness of climate change adaptation and their capacity to put the guidelines into practice. It is expected that updated guidelines can be applied in other regions in Canada.
Valued at $645,000, the project — Incorporating Climate Resilience for Municipal Infrastructure into the Updates of Existing Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Design Guidelines — also received support from the following sources:
- ACWWA
- Government of Prince Edward Island
- Government of New Brunswick
- Government of Nova Scotia
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
- City of Charlottetown
- Halifax Water
“The Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association is very grateful for the funding support provided through the NRCan BRACE program and from our project partners, the four Atlantic Provinces, the City of Charlottetown and Halifax Water,” said Jennie Rand, chair of ACWWA. “The design guidelines have been vital resources for our members, and their update ensures that climate change implications become a key consideration that is vital to the long-term success and sustainability of water and wastewater projects.”
Natural Resources Canada’s BRACE program is an $18-million strategic investment under the Adaptation and Climate Resilience pillar of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The program works directly with provinces to deliver projects that include training, internships, and knowledge-sharing activities that will build the capacity Canadians need to respond to the effects of a changing climate.
