Canada

From HFA-PEDIA

1 What's new
2 HFA National Reports
3 National Platform
4 HFA National Focal Point
5 Other contacts
6 Country profile:
7 Climate change
8 Progress
9 Others Documents:
10 Web Links:

What's new

Insurance Bureau of Canada calls upon Canadians to adapt to climate change

Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)

Date: 22 December 2009

URL: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/email/url.php?eid=12144

HFA National Reports

Preliminary national HFA progress report: Canada (via HFA Monitor on PreventionWeb)

National Report 2007-2009 (2008): Report submitted but not published

National Report 2007: No reported

National Report 2006: No reported

National Report 2005: No reported

National Report 2004: Prepared for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (WCDR)

National Platform

On 26 Oct 2010 the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, announced Canada's National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, to better protect Canadians in the event of a disaster. The establishment of Canada's National Platform further strengthens existing coordination on domestic disaster risk reduction initiatives developed by Public Safety Canada, such as the National Disaster Mitigation Strategy, the National Strategy and Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure, and the Federal Emergency Response Plan.

"Natural disasters, such as floods and severe weather can happen almost anywhere in Canada and it is important we do everything possible to reduce the risks before such events occur," said Minister Toews. "Through the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, we are ensuring a comprehensive, coordinated approach to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery. Everyone benefits when governments, non-government organizations, academia, and the private sector work together toward the same goal – the safety and security of Canadian families."

The National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction also allows stakeholders from across the public sector, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations to:

Share ideas and action in order to address disaster risk reduction issues
Work towards the better integration of disaster risk reduction in national emergency management policies, plans and programs, and
Strengthen stakeholder relationships to better address gaps in the prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from disasters.

"I am pleased to welcome the delegates for this first National Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction to New Brunswick," said Robert B. Trevors, New Brunswick's Minister of Public Safety. "New Brunswick residents have first hand knowledge of the damage that spring floods and severe storms can cause. We can count on the public to support governments' efforts to reduce the risks before disasters strike, but governments cannot do this alone. The National Platform enables government, non-government and private sector organizations to work together to reduce risk and make Canada and our communities safer."

This announcement coincides with the Annual National Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction, which is being hosted this year in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and is attended by over 70 stakeholders including the Canadian Red Cross.

In January 2005, Canada adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), under the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. The National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is part of Canada's commitment to deliver on the HFA. Results of an emergency preparedness survey by Public Safety Canada were also released today. The survey shows an increasing number of Canadians are preparing for emergencies and that two-thirds of adult Canadians (66%) say their family has taken action to prepare such as getting an emergency kit or making an emergency plan. The full survey results are available on www.GetPrepared.ca.

For more information on disaster mitigation including the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

Public Safety Canada: Government of Canada launches National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction

Information:

Media Relations

Public Safety Canada

+613-991-0657

HFA National Focal Point

Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Response Group (IRH), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

125 Promenade Sussex Drive

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0G2

CANADA

URL: www.international.gc.ca > Global Issues > Humanitarian Affairs > Natural Disasters and Risk Reduction

Contact Person:

Stephen Burridge, Policy Advisor (as of July 2010)

Tel: 613-992-2022, Fax/Téléc: 613-943-4875

E-mail: stephen.burridge@international.gc.ca

Other contacts

Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

Chief:

His Excellency Mr. Marius Grinius

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Permanent Representative

Address: Avenue de l'Ariana 5, 1202 Geneva

Tel: +(41-22) 919-9200, Fax: +(41-22) 919-9233

Email: genev@international.gc.ca

URL: http://www.international.gc.ca/Canada_un/geneva

Public Safety Canada

URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/

Canadian Risk and Hazard Network (CRHNet)

Contact person: Dr. Ron Kuban, President (February, 2009) - replacing David Etkin

CEO, Pegasus Emergency Management Consortium Corp.

President, Canadian Risk and Hazards Network

3116 - 36B Avenue

Edmonton, AB

T6T 1H4 Canada

Tel: (780) 463-5252, Fax: (780) 468-4224

E-mail: rkuban@shaw.ca

http://www.PegasusEMC.com

Ministry of Natural Resources

Address:

Phone: (613) 995-0947

E-mail: media@nrcan.gc.ca

Website: www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/

Ministry of Environment

Address: Environment Canada, Inquiry Centre, 70 Crémazie Street, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H3

Phone: (+1) 800 668-6767 [in Canada only]/819-997-2800 / Fax: 819-994-1412 / TTY: 819-994-0736

E-mail: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Website: www.ec.gc.ca/

Ministry of Health

Address: Health Canada, Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney's Pasture, Postal Locator: 0906C, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0K9

Fax: (613) 952-1154

E-mail: Info@hc-sc.gc.ca

Website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness (CCEP)

Address: 860 Harrington Court, Suite 211, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3N4, Canada

Phone: 905.331.2552 / Fax: 905.331.1641

E-mail: stracey@nfpa.org

Website: www.ccep.ca/

Reducing Risk from Natural Hazards Program (RRNH)

Contact person: Christopher Tucker, Program Manager, Reducing Risk from Natural Hazard, ESS/PBESS/ESSP, Natural Resources Canada

Address: Natural Resources Canada, 601 Booth Street, 4th Floor, Room. 479, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0E8

Phone: (613) 943-4245 / Fax : (613) 992-0190

E-mail: cmtucker@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Website: http://ess.nrcan.gc.ca/rrnh-rran/overview_e.php

Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations

Address: One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 Second Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA

Phone: (+1) 212-848-1100

Email: canada@un.int / prmny@international.gc.ca

Website: www.international.gc.ca/canada_un/new_york/

Canadian Society for International Health

Address: 1 Nicholas St, Suite 1105, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7, CANADA

Phone: 613 241-5785 / Fax: 613 241-3845

E-mail: csih@csih.org

Website: http://www.csih.org/

Canadian Red Cross:

Address: National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2

Phone: (+613) 740-1900 / Fax: (+613) 740-1911

E-mail: feedback@redcross.ca

Website: www.redcross.ca/

Country profile:

Official name: Canada

Capital: Ottawa

Population: 33,390,141 (July 2007 est.)

Total area: 9,984,670 sq km

Languages: English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5% (Chinese, Italian, German, Cree, Inuktitut, etc)

Government: Parliamentary democracy

Ethnic Groups: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Religion: Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Currency: Canadian dollar

Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories; in turn, these may be grouped into regions. Western Canada consists of British Columbia and the three Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). Central Canada consists of Quebec and Ontario. Atlantic Canada consists of the three Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia), along with Newfoundland and Labrador. Eastern Canada refers to Central Canada and Atlantic Canada together. Three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut) make up Northern Canada. Provinces have a large degree of autonomy from the federal government, territories somewhat less. Each has its own provincial or territorial symbols.

The provinces are responsible for most of Canada's social programs (such as health care, education, and welfare) and together collect more revenue than the federal government, an almost unique structure among federations in the world. Using its spending powers, the federal government can initiate national policies in provincial areas, such as the Canada Health Act; the provinces can opt out of these, but rarely do so in practice. Equalization payments are made by the federal government to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.

All provinces have unicameral, elected legislatures headed by a Premier selected in the same way as the Prime Minister of Canada. Each province also has a Lieutenant-Governor representing the Queen, analogous to the Governor General of Canada. The Lieutenant-Governor is appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada, though with increasing levels of consultation with provincial governments in recent years.

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

Source: UNISDR The Amercias, CIA Factbook, Wikipedia

Disaster and risk profile

Canadian Disaster Database

The Canadian Disaster Database contains historical information on disasters which have directly affected Canadians, at home and abroad, over the past century. References to all types of Canadian disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards, technological hazards or conflict (not including war) can be found here. The database describes where and when a disaster occurred and who was affected.

Canada on PreventionWeb

Policies and legislation

Federal Policy for Emergency Management

The Federal Policy for Emergency Management states that the federal government is responsible for emergency management at the national level in its exclusive jurisdictions and on lands and properties under federal responsibility. Provincial and territorial governments exercise responsibility for emergency management within their respective jurisdictions except where legislation allows for direct federal intervention or for shared responsibility. If any emergency threatens to overwhelm the resources of a province or territory, federal institutions may respond to the request or if an emergency has a national implication. A provincial request for assistance during an emergency indicates that the province requires federal support to achieve an objective. While the province may indicate the specific resources and capabilities required, in most instances federal departments and agencies will need to define the appropriate response. Federal institutions can also make preparations in advance of anticipated need or request for assistance from a province or territory.

This policy took effect on December 10, 2009, thereby replacing the 1995 Federal Policy for Emergencies.

The Government of Canada has adopted an all-hazards approach to emergency management, encompassing four interdependent, but integrated functions: mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Under the Emergency Management Act (EMA), the Minister of Public Safety is responsible for exercising leadership relating to emergency management in Canada by coordinating, among federal institutions and in cooperation with the Provinces, Territories and other entities, emergency management activities. Under section 4 of the EMA, the Minister of Public Safety’s responsibilities include providing advice to government institutions respecting the preparation, maintenance, testing and implementation of emergency management plans.

Canada's National Disaster Mitigation Strategy

The Government of Canada, together with provincial and territorial governments, launched Canada's National Disaster Mitigation Strategy on January 9, 2008.

This Strategy is based on the recognition by federal, provincial, and territorial governments that mitigation is an important part of a robust emergency management framework, and that all stakeholders are committed to working together to support disaster mitigation in Canada.

Urban indicators

Indicator	2030
Total population (thousands)	39,105
Population in urban (thousands)	32,848
Population in slums (thousands)	N/A
Population in urban areas (% of total population)	84
Population in slums (% of urban population)	N/A
Annual urban population growth rate (%)	N/A
Annual slum population growth rate (%)	N/A
Population with access to improved sanitation (% of urban population)	N/A
Population with access to improved water (% of urban population)	N/A
Population with sufficient living area (% of urban population)	N/A
Population with durable structures (% of urban population)	N/A
Population in rural (thousands)	6,257

Source: UN-Habitat - The data presented here is extracted from UN-HABITAT's Global Urban Indicators database.

The data is drawn from different sources and based on 2030 estimates.

Climate change

From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007; Government of Canada, 2008 - D.S. Lemmen, F.J.Warren and J. Lacroix et al.

Human Health in a Changing Climate: A Canadian Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacity; Health Canada, 2008

Progress

Official country statement to the Global Platform 2009:

Canada - Mr. Marius Grinius, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative

PA1: National Disaster Mitigation Strategy approved in 2008 by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Emergency Management.
PA4: Work has been done to mitigate risk in the Artic due to climate change.

HFA P1 - Institutional and legal framework

HFA P2 - Risk identification and EWS:

HFA P3 - Knowledge and education:

HFA P4 - Risk applications:

HFA P5 - Preparedness and response:

Others Documents:

True North: Adapting Infrastructure to Climate Change in Northern Canada

2009 Report published by Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE)

Over two years in the making and resulting from consultations with almost 100 Canadian stakeholders, True North identifies adjustments we can make to improve building codes and standards, insurance mechanisms, and disaster management planning as part of adapting to climate change now.

This report provides policy recommendations for governments in Canada in particular but is also of interest to a much wider audience.

Recommendations cover two broad areas:

1) Making existing institutions work better now by mainstreaming adaptation into government policies and processes, and ensuring northern views are "at the table"; and

2) Building northern response capacity through enhancements in science and in the problem-solving abilities of communities, so the region is more resilient, selfreliant, and less vulnerable in meeting the challenges of climate change adaptation in the years ahead.