Green Party of Canada Interim Leader Dr. Amita Kuttner and Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich Gulf Islands spoke out today about the disasters possibly expected this weekend. “After over 100 days of extreme drought, rain is finally coming. We should be happy, but we have seen play before.” said Dr. Kuttner. “The soil is too dry. The soil will not absorb the moisture. It will repel it.” “The climate emergency directly drives dangerous and abrupt swings in our rainfall patterns - going from drought to flood. And we are clearly not ready.” said Dr. Kuttner.
Minister Guilbeault has promised an adaptation strategy to be released in November. “We expect the federal government to think they solve the flooding risk by improving insurance. Yet, with near zero capacity to monitor and avoid flood risk, with a long delayed Canada Water Agency, we are more at risk of flooding now than we were thirty years ago,” said Elizabeth May.
Greens submitted our suggestions on adaptation to the government. “We included the clear need to be prepared to use the Emergencies Act to address climate disasters. If the federal government had used the Public Welfare aspects of the emergencies act last summer, it is likely the 700 BC residents who died in the heat dome might be alive today,” said Elizabeth May.
In anticipation of a government announcement of some form of Canada Water Agency, the Green Party of Canada is calling for the Canada Water Agency to be a fully independent agency. This means a Government of Canada Agency that has an Agency Head reporting to a Minister similar to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Water is currently disconnected and uncoordinated across more than twenty departments. It would be key in establishing the agency to require it be rooted in Indigenous rights and sovereignty, including co-governance, co-drafting, and outlining the critical role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable water management.
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For more information or to arrange an interview:
Fabrice Lachance Nové
514-463-0021
fabrice.lachance@greenparty.ca