Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities, has launched a new intake for the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF).
“With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, cities and towns need to take increasing action to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change,” said Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities. “Starting today communities across Canada can apply to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund for projects such as wildfire mitigation, rehabilitation of storm water systems, and restoration of wetlands and shorelines.”
“We’re investing almost $1.4 billion in additional funding to help communities remain resilient in the face of a changing climate and other natural environmental risk events that are part of the climate emergency,” added McKenna. “Together, we can build a nation that is resilient and inclusive, while growing our economy and creating good jobs for Canadians.”
Communities across Canada are invited to submit projects that will aim to protect and strengthen their communities by increasing their resilience to the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental impacts of natural hazards. The projects can also aim to increase resilience to extreme weather events when considering current and potential future climate change impacts.
“Climate change is having a dramatic impact on Canadian communities across the country, with droughts, wildfires, and flooding becoming more frequent, including here in Etobicoke,” said James Maloney, member of parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “With federal support for projects like the tree canopy and waterfront shoreline project here in Etobicoke through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, we are protecting our community from the impacts of extreme weather for generations to come.”
The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund received an additional $1.375 billion in Budget 2021 to support projects such as rehabilitation of stormwater systems, restoration of wetlands and shorelines, and wildfire mitigation activities.
Under this program, $670 million is being dedicated to new, small-scale projects between $1 million and $20 million in total eligible costs. The remaining funding envelope is allocated to large-scale projects above $20 million in total eligible costs.
In addition, a minimum of $138 million of the total funding envelope is being dedicated to Indigenous recipients. Together, this funding will help small, rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities adapt to climate change impacts.
