Tag Archives: Permafrost

Billions in federal buildings, roads and other assets at risk from climate change

By Natasha Bulowski – with files from Rochelle Baker, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

Canada’s auditor general wants to know whether the federal government is doing a good job protecting its assets — including dams, buildings, vehicles and more — from the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.

The Department of National Defence received a notification letter — obtained by Canada’s National Observer through an access to information request — that the auditor general is launching a performance audit of “Protecting Federal Assets From Climate Change.”

The audit is for the government-wide Greening Government Strategy but pays special attention to three key departments — Fisheries and Oceans Canada, National Defence and Public Services and Procurement Canada — to assess their progress on protecting their assets, services and activities from climate change.

Continue reading Billions in federal buildings, roads and other assets at risk from climate change

How will Canada’s North afford the great permafrost thaw?

By Caitrin Pilkington, Cabin Radio, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In 2017, experts estimated the annual cost of damage caused by permafrost thaw to be $51 million. With no easy solution in sight, what will happen as the problem intensifies?

N.W.T. Association of Communities chief executive Sara Brown first presented that figure in 2017 and has since lobbied the federal government for increased funding to address the issue. 

The government has funded permafrost education and research like a $17,000 “information hub” in Inuvik, but no comprehensive strategy exists to address rapidly deteriorating infrastructure. 

Continue reading How will Canada’s North afford the great permafrost thaw?