Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Governments of Canada and B.C. and Fraser Basin Council Helping Communities Address Climate Change

Natural Resources Canada
2010/04
January 25, 2010

KELOWNA, B.C. — The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced a Regional Adaptation Collaborative led by the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the Fraser Basin Council.

A series of projects will be undertaken over the next three years to help British Columbians address climate change issues by advancing decision making in the areas of water allocation and use, forest and watershed management, flood protection and floodplain management, and community planning.

The new initiative, entitled Preparing for Climate Change: Securing B.C.’s Water Future, is coordinated by the non-profit Fraser Basin Council and the B.C. Ministry of Environment. Natural Resources Canada is providing $3.3 million of the $6.9 million, which includes contributions from 18 partners in provincial ministries, local governments, First Nations and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academia.

“We must work together to increase our ability to address climate change impacts and to help our communities adapt,” said Minister Day. “We need to take measures that will generate the knowledge, information, tools and partnerships to ensure that we are well-positioned to make appropriate decisions as our climate changes.”

“The Fraser Basin Council is ready to work with communities and resource managers as they explore the best ways possible to manage water resources in a changing climate,” said David Marshall, Executive Director of the Fraser Basin Council. “We are all now faced with a dual challenge: first, to tackle climate change by moving to low-carbon economy and second, to minimize the adverse impacts that climate change is already having on watersheds. A collaborative approach is key to success, along with a frank acknowledgement that water is precious and can’t be taken for granted.”

“This partnership will enhance the knowledge and tools for decision-makers across B.C. to prepare for climate change,” said the Honourable John Yap, B.C. Minister of State for Climate Action. “The province will use the new Regional Adaption Collaborative to implement our Living Water Smart commitments and manage water resources and riparian areas with climate change in mind.”

Activities will include risk assessments, economic analysis, knowledge transfer, consultation and the integration of adaptation measures into planning and decision-making processes.

Funded as part of an $85.9-million investment by the Government of Canada, the initiative builds on the scientific findings of the B.C. chapter of the report From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007. This extensive national assessment identified current and expected impacts of climate change across Canada and highlighted the need for a regional approach to adaptation.

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I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.