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Canada Invests in Climate Change Adaptation Around Ontario's Great Lakes

TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2025 (CNW Group via COMTEX) --

Across the country, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe and more frequent with extreme events like floods and wildfires and more gradual changes like thawing permafrost and rising sea levels, affecting the safety and quality of life of our communities. Acting now will help protect our communities from the worst economic and environmental impacts of climate change by improving long-term resilience and reducing costs associated with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.Â

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson and Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin announced $4.1 million in funding for two projects based around Ontario's Great Lakes under Natural Resources Canada's Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program.Â

Through the CRCC Program, the two projects respectively led by Conservation Ontario and Zuzek Inc. will aim to support coastal communities around the Great Lakes by completing climate change risk assessments and developing integrated adaptation plans and actions in collaboration with regional stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

The Government of Canada is investing in climate change adaptation to proactively support community-led resilience and adaptation efforts. It is essential, now more than ever, that we come together to help communities stay strong in the face of current and future change.

Quotes

"The impacts associated with climate change â?? including intense wildfires, devastating floods, stronger storms and hurricanes, and permafrost thaw in the north â?? are being felt environmentally and economically in every single region ofÂ Canada. That is whyÂ this federal government is acting now to help our communities and economy prepare for and protect against the threat of climate change. Â Today's announcements of two projects based around the Great Lakes support vital, community-based work to keep people safe now and into the future."

The Honourable Jonathan WilkinsonMinister of Energy and Natural Resources

"The impacts of climate change are significant and increasing in frequency and severity. Investments in these important initiatives allow Canada to leverage the expertise and guidance of researchers and experts across the country for the benefit of infrastructure planning and decision-making. This is the kind of whole-of-society approach that's required to better prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change."

The Honourable Steven GuilbeaultMinister of Environment and Climate Change Canada

"We are very pleased to announce funding for these nine projects that will support communities and sectors to develop and implement actions to better adapt to a changing climate. Keeping Canadians safe is a priority, and investments like those announced today go a long way to help mitigate the impacts associated with climate change that are devastating livelihoods, environments and the economy."

Julie DabrusinParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Torontoâ??Danforth

"Climate change is impacting communities in Ontario and across Canada, and that definitely includes our Great Lakes coastal communities. It's exciting to see federal recognition of the area as a distinct ecological area in need of specific types of protection from an adaptation and resilience perspective."

Tony Van BynenMember of Parliament for Newmarketâ??Aurora

"The federal government's decision to designate 8,400 kilometres of Canadian Great Lakes shorelines as coastal areas underscores the importance of protecting local communities and property. By working together, we advance collaborative solutions to coastal hazards. Promoting a climate-resilient future while reinforcing Ontario's role as a key economic partner and the significance of this freshwater ecosystem are key priorities for Conservation Ontario."

Chris WhiteChair, Conservation Ontario Board of Directors, Mayor of Guelph/Eramosa, and Warden, Wellington County

"As the Chair of the Pelee Coastal Resilience Committee, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to NRCan and the CRCC Program for the funding to create a Climate Resilience and Adaptation Action Plan for the north shore of Lake Erie, from Amherstburg to Port Alma. It has galvanized our local partners to work collaboratively with landowners and stakeholders to develop and implement climate change adaptation solutions to increase coastal resilience."

Peter ZuzekPresident, Zuzek Inc.

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