Mon, May 9, 2022
Katrina Nokleby, left, MLA for Great Slave, speaking with interim Dehcho Grand Chief Stanley Sanguez. Nokleby recently visited both Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River First Nation to see the recovery from last year's flooding.
(Submitted by Katrina Nokleby - image credit)
Katrina Nokleby, MLA for Great Slave, said the N.W.T. should be establishing long-term plans for dealing with climate change, and not putting the onus on individual communities.
Speaking with CBC News after she visited both Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River First Nation last week, she said the trip was informative, but also showed her where the territory had fallen short.
"There's a lot of things that don't really look like they've been thought out," she said.
As Hay River deals with flooding during spring breakup, other communities are preparing for the worst. With summer approaching there is fear of what forest fire season will bring.
Nokleby said the territory needs to be proactive and not put things like flood preparation solely on the community governments.
"We are always, constantly, not giving the municipalities any power or the ability to do anything," she said.
"And now when it comes to this critical climate change driven, unknown scenario where they say it's only on them to do it when they're already being underfunded, with no increase for how many years?"
Katrina Nokleby, MLA for Great Slave, said the N.W.T. should be establishing long-term plans for dealing with climate change, and not putting the onus on individual communities.
Speaking with CBC News after she visited both Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River First Nation last week, she said the trip was informative, but also showed her where the territory had fallen short.
"There's a lot of things that don't really look like they've been thought out," she said.
As Hay River deals with flooding during spring breakup, other communities are preparing for the worst. With summer approaching there is fear of what forest fire season will bring.
Nokleby said the territory needs to be proactive and not put things like flood preparation solely on the community governments.
"We are always, constantly, not giving the municipalities any power or the ability to do anything," she said.
"And now when it comes to this critical climate change driven, unknown scenario where they say it's only on them to do it when they're already being underfunded, with no increase for how many years?"
Submitted by Katrina Nokleby
Flood preparation was something Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly said he felt the territorial government should be offering more assistance on.
"The territorial government still doesn't fund flood mitigation," he told CBC News in an interview in late April.
"Any of the preparation falls on the community and it's tough for a small community like Fort Simpson."
In an interview with CBC News last week, Shane Thompson, minister of municipal and community affairs, said the department has made a few changes for emergency management preparedness.
The majority of work falls on the superintendent role and MACA has established five positions for staff who will help manage the response and stay in close contact with community leaders.
Thompson said the severity of last years flooding caught many people off guard.
"This was the worst flood, when I talked to Elders about it, like, they have never, ever seen it this bad before," he said.
Northern premiers call on feds for more support
On Monday, the premiers of Yukon, N.W.T. and Nunavut issued a joint statement calling on the federal government to provide more support to the North in dealing with climate change.
"Canada's North is warming up three to four times faster than the global average and northern communities are seeing these impacts first-hand," the statement reads.
The premiers called for support and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy systems, emergency preparedness, northern research, health and wellness, preservation of cultural identity and economic opportunities.
In November 2021, Nokleby attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly known as COP26.
She said some of what she learned was how important it is to involve Indigenous people and governments in the discussions around preparing for climate change.
"The only way we're going to solve things is to empower the Indigenous people to do so and get them into positions of government because they care about this land and they're invested," she said.
Short-term fixes
While visiting both communities Nokleby said another issue she recognized was how short-term some of the recovery is. Many homes that were damaged, especially in Jean Marie River, remained in the same place, just raised higher off the ground.
Luke Carroll/ CBC
"Kind of the idea is hoping that flood waters aren't going to come up that high," she said.
Nokleby said many flood victims were happy to be getting any sort of replacement, but it took a long time — one year later, many still haven't moved in.
She said many homes only have one exit which could be a fire hazard, and a lot of homes are built on dirt pad slopes which can risk erosion after a good rainfall or if flood waters reach.
"Just a lot of really like half done things," Nokleby said.
Northern premiers call for more federal funding in fight against climate change
Mon, May 9, 2022
WHITEHORSE — Canada's territorial premiers are calling on the federal government to increase funding for clean energy projects and to adapt to climate change.
Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane are meeting in Whitehorse this week for their annual Northern Premiers’ Forum.
They say in a joint statement that Canada’s territories are warming up three to four times faster than the global average and it is already affecting communities.
The statement says climate change is causing growing concerns about food security, health, public safety, the resilience of infrastructure and preservation of cultural identity.
It says the territories are doing their part, but more federal collaboration and investment is needed to meet climate action targets.
The Yukon government says in a separate news release that all the decisions reached at the forum will be raised later this summer at the Western Premiers’ Conference and at the Council of the Federation, when all Canada's premiers gather.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2022.
Mon, May 9, 2022
WHITEHORSE — Canada's territorial premiers are calling on the federal government to increase funding for clean energy projects and to adapt to climate change.
Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane are meeting in Whitehorse this week for their annual Northern Premiers’ Forum.
They say in a joint statement that Canada’s territories are warming up three to four times faster than the global average and it is already affecting communities.
The statement says climate change is causing growing concerns about food security, health, public safety, the resilience of infrastructure and preservation of cultural identity.
It says the territories are doing their part, but more federal collaboration and investment is needed to meet climate action targets.
The Yukon government says in a separate news release that all the decisions reached at the forum will be raised later this summer at the Western Premiers’ Conference and at the Council of the Federation, when all Canada's premiers gather.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2022.
Climate change tops agenda as northern premiers meet face-to-face again
CBC
Mon, May 9, 2022,
N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane, left, with Yukon Premier Sandy Silver and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok in Whitehorse on Monday. The premiers met for the first in-person Northern Premier's Forum since 2019.
CBC
Mon, May 9, 2022,
N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane, left, with Yukon Premier Sandy Silver and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok in Whitehorse on Monday. The premiers met for the first in-person Northern Premier's Forum since 2019.
(Vincent Bonnay/Radio-Canada - image credit)
After two days of talks, Canada's three territorial premiers agreed to call on the federal government to provide more support and funding in seven key areas.
As a first step, the premiers said they want to see more funding in the North for climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean energy and monitoring.
Speaking to media on Monday afternoon after their meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver said they didn't have a specific number in mind.
"It's not necessarily a dollar value. It's based on what the premiers recognized across Canada, the unique needs and concerns and considerations of being a territory," said Silver. "Per capita spending is not enough."
Issues connected to climate change
The seven areas the premiers agreed on, which are detailed in the pan-northern leaders' statement on climate change, are climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable and alternative secure energy systems, emergency preparedness, northern research, knowledge and capacity building, supporting health and wellness, preservation of cultural identity and economic opportunities.
In the statement, which was also signed by many Indigenous governments, the premiers state the North is warming up three to four times more than the global average.
Silver added there aren't many issues in the North that aren't connected to climate change.
He said it affects infrastructure, food security, health, energy systems, emergency preparedness and public safety and that more investments by the federal government are needed.
Silver also singled out housing as an issue.
He said the premiers acknowledged that the lack of housing affects individuals and the resilience of communities.
"We understand that access to affordable, adequate and suitable housing is linked with all aspects," he said.
Taltson hydro expansion project
N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane added the whole world is recognizing the effects of climate change and governments are talking about it more and more, but warned they also need to act.
"We can change a lot of things with money but if we don't start working on [climate change] seriously, we're going to be impacted. Climate change will be here for decades. And money can't fix things if it's too late. So it's time to start working on it now," she said.
She said the best example she can give to support climate in the N.W.T. is for the federal government to support the expansion of the Taltson hydro project.
"That is the way that we will get more communities off diesel, but it's not going to be the answer for all communities," said Cochrane, adding governments will have to keep looking for more solutions to reduce emissions.
After two days of talks, Canada's three territorial premiers agreed to call on the federal government to provide more support and funding in seven key areas.
As a first step, the premiers said they want to see more funding in the North for climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean energy and monitoring.
Speaking to media on Monday afternoon after their meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver said they didn't have a specific number in mind.
"It's not necessarily a dollar value. It's based on what the premiers recognized across Canada, the unique needs and concerns and considerations of being a territory," said Silver. "Per capita spending is not enough."
Issues connected to climate change
The seven areas the premiers agreed on, which are detailed in the pan-northern leaders' statement on climate change, are climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable and alternative secure energy systems, emergency preparedness, northern research, knowledge and capacity building, supporting health and wellness, preservation of cultural identity and economic opportunities.
In the statement, which was also signed by many Indigenous governments, the premiers state the North is warming up three to four times more than the global average.
Silver added there aren't many issues in the North that aren't connected to climate change.
He said it affects infrastructure, food security, health, energy systems, emergency preparedness and public safety and that more investments by the federal government are needed.
Silver also singled out housing as an issue.
He said the premiers acknowledged that the lack of housing affects individuals and the resilience of communities.
"We understand that access to affordable, adequate and suitable housing is linked with all aspects," he said.
Taltson hydro expansion project
N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane added the whole world is recognizing the effects of climate change and governments are talking about it more and more, but warned they also need to act.
"We can change a lot of things with money but if we don't start working on [climate change] seriously, we're going to be impacted. Climate change will be here for decades. And money can't fix things if it's too late. So it's time to start working on it now," she said.
She said the best example she can give to support climate in the N.W.T. is for the federal government to support the expansion of the Taltson hydro project.
"That is the way that we will get more communities off diesel, but it's not going to be the answer for all communities," said Cochrane, adding governments will have to keep looking for more solutions to reduce emissions.
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