Ottawa – Climate Proof Canada is encouraged to see new investments to better protect and inform Canadians at highest risk of flooding and modernize federal disaster assistance to better adapt to climate change, as announced today in the federal budget. The federal government has again demonstrated its commitment to combat climate change playing both offence, with new clean economy measures, and defence, to address severe flooding risks and rethink the federal response to increasing climate-related disasters.
Every community across Canada is at heightened risk of natural catastrophes and more must be done to protect our communities. Severe weather in 2022 caused $3.1 billion in insured damage alone making it in the top three worst years on record for insured damages in Canadian history.
Climate Proof Canada has supported the federal government’s intergovernmental dialogue with provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and organizations to finalize the National Adaptation Strategy in the coming weeks. Today’s budget builds on the National Adaptation Strategy by:
- Investing in launching a new approach to climate-related disasters, in partnership with provinces and territories, beginning with standing-up a national flood insurance program for those at highest risk is an important next step for advancing the National Adaptation Strategy. Improving Canadians’ understanding of the risks their homes face from flooding is necessary to better protecting our communities.
- The commitment to modernizing the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program backed by financial support to undertake the process is a much-needed step that will improve the way programs are delivered in the face of increasing frequency and severity of natural catastrophes.
- Climate Proof Canada also acknowledges the additional measures to support restoration of key waterways and better protection of freshwater across the country.
Now more than ever, there needs to be a focused effort on the part of the federal government to finalize and fund implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy, such that we make tangible progress toward the targets set out, and better prepare for the present and growing effects of climate change through building a more disaster-resilient country.
Climate Proof Canada looks forward to working with the federal government to support this critical undertaking.
Climate Proof Canada is a national coalition of Canadian business representatives, disaster relief organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, environmental NGOs, and think tanks that believe Canada must prepare for the present and growing effects of climate change through building a more disaster-resilient country.
