Government of Canada Creates Jobs by Investing in Green Projects in the North

November 27, 2009

OTTAWA — The Government of Canada will invest $1.66 million this year to develop climate change adaptation plans that will increase the ability of communities in Nunavut to better understand and plan for the impacts of climate change. This investment will incorporate geoscience knowledge on changing permafrost and sea level conditions and will also generate new employment in the community.

“Our Government is investing in these projects because they allow us to combine new scientific studies of the Arctic with traditional knowledge, which in turn employs local residents,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. “This project will help ensure Northern communities have the information they need to adapt to potential climate change.”

“Building partnerships in the North has been an effective way of delivering programs that assist with adaptation to climate change,” said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. “This partnership has been valuable in implementing adaptation planning in Nunavut.”

Climate change adaptation plans will be developed this year for Arviat and Whale Cove in the Kivalliq Region and for Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay in the Kitikmeot Region. The new plans are part of the Nunavut Climate Change Partnership, a multi-year collaborative effort launched by the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Canadian Institute of Planners. To date, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $3.19 million in this program, which is one of a number of federal initiatives that are delivering $85.9 million to help Canadians better understand, plan for and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.