Climate change resulting in melting of winter roads to First Nations, requires new infrastructure investments
Northern ministers seek infrastructure help to adapt to climate change
November 26, 2007 - Politicians representing northern regions of Canada say they need more infrastructure to help adapt to climate change, which they say is melting much-needed winter roads.
The topic of climate change was a major issue among cabinet ministers and MLAs from the northern territories and every province with northern areas as they met in Ottawa on Thursday and Friday for the annual Northern Development Ministers' Forum.
"Climate change is certainly something that is of concern to all northerners," John Hickey, the minister responsible for Labrador affairs in Newfoundland and Labrador, told CBC News.
Hickey and others said the North will need infrastructure to help communities adapt to changing conditions, such as buildings sinking in softening permafrost and melting winter roads that are becoming less reliable.
Representatives from the Northwest Territories said climate change is already affecting winter roads to diamond mines in the territory.
"We're looking at different options as to how we can come up with ways to extend the life of the road," said Bob McLeod, the N.W.T.'s minister of industry, tourism and investment.
"The other example would be the Mackenzie River … [with] climate change and global warming, you can see much more inconsistency with regards to whether or not we can build an ice bridge across the river."
Northern communities depend on the frozen winter roads to have supplies and products shipped up from the south, said Rod Bruinooge, an MP from Winnipeg and parliamentary secretary to Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.
"I think some of the infrastructure interest would be in terms of actually delivering and building long-term bridges to accommodate traversing the waterways," Bruinooge said.
While the politicians at the northern forum called for more infrastructure to address climate change, it was not clear who they thought should pay for it.