Governments Work Together to Address Climate Change

The governments of Canada and Ontario are addressing climate change together through the announcement of joint funding for the Ontario Regional Adaptation Collaborative (Ontario RAC), a series of projects to help communities adapt to climate change. The three-year initiative is aimed at helping decision-makers in Ontario better prepare for extreme weather impacts. 

The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources stated that Natural Resources Canada provided $3.3 million of the $6.8 million in funding for the Ontario RAC. One goal of the collaborative is to help municipalities apply climate change considerations to decisions about water supplies or infrastructure, for example, in building code standards and water engineering practices.

"Our Government is working with Ontario to support local and regional groups in their efforts to develop coordinated climate change adaptation action plans," said Minister Paradis. "Together, we are taking measures to generate knowledge, tools and partnerships to ensure that we are well positioned to make appropriate decisions as our climate changes."

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, with participation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Natural Resources, will lead the projects addressing climate change impacts by working with seven Ontario-based partners on local initiatives. Also involved would be municipal governments, industry, academia and non-governmental organizations. 

"This adaptation project is an important part of our Open Ontario Plan to address climate change," said Ontario Environment Minister John Wilkinson. "Together with our partners, we will find solutions to climate challenges and protect our water, infrastructure and the health and safety of Ontario families."

"This initiative will help municipalities and communities across the province adapt to climate change and its impacts," said Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rick Bartolucci. "By working together with our partners, we are helping Ontarians plan for and protect themselves from the impacts of a changing climate."

"Local governments need accurate information to make effective decisions in the face of climate change," said Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey. "Tools created through this initiative will help decision-makers manage risk and plan for the future."

Activities will include best-practices development, policy recommendations, capacity building and risk assessments. The solutions developed through these projects will be shared nationally to ensure that Canadian communities are well positioned to make appropriate decisions as the climate changes. 

LEARN MORE

 

• Backgrounder: Making Ontario More Climate Resilient
• Ontario Regional Adaptation Collaborative

CONTACTS

• Contact information for the general public
  416-325-4000 
  1-800-565-4923
  

• Grahame Rivers
  Office of the Honourable John Wilkinson
  Ministry of the Environment
  416-314-6736
  Grahame.Rivers@ontario.ca

• Kate Jordan
  Communications Branch
  Ministry of the Environment
  416-314-6666 
  Kate.Jordan@ontario.ca

• Richard Walker
  Director of Communications
  Office of the Minister
  Natural Resources Canada 
  613-996-2007
  

• Media Relations
  Natural Resources Canada
  613-992-4447