True North: Adapting Infrastructure to Climate Change in Northern Canada – Convene
The NRT benefited from the insights, perspectives, and advice of over 100 stakeholders in the shaping of this policy work. As part of our research, we visited and heard from experts and decision makers in Gjoa Haven, Inuvik, Yellowknife Whitehorse, Toronto, and Edmonton though a series of consultation sessions.
The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy benefited from the insights, perspectives, and advice of over 100 stakeholders in the shaping of this policy report. We would like to thank the government officials, experts, and other members of our Expert Advisory Committee for providing valuable input on the research and conclusions that form this report. The committee was co-chaired by NRTEE Vice-Chair David Chernushenko, and Ian Church, Chair of the National Committee of International Polar Year Canada. Special acknowledgements go to Heather Auld, Don Lemmen, and Bill Wyness, whose extensive feedback on scientific and technical issues, northern realities, and the application of risk-based mechanisms to infrastructure helped to strengthen our work. Dr. Robert Page, Chair of the NRTEE, and Robert Slater, Vice-Chair with David Chernushenko, helped guide the development of the final report and its recommendations on behalf of NRTEE members.
As part of our research, we visited and heard from experts and decision makers in Gjoa Haven, Inuvik, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Toronto, and Edmonton. The NRTEE would like to thank all who participated in these stakeholder sessions. We wish to thank the three study teams that led the distinct research components for this report — the Canadian Standards Association, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, and Gartner Lee Ltd. — as well as Torys LLP for its research on liability issues. We want to acknowledge and thank officials from Environment Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Infrastructure Canada, and Natural Resources Canada, in particular, which provided expertise in support of our research.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Meetings of the Expert Advisory Committee
October 3, 2007: Ottawa, Ontario
January 28, 29 and 30, 2008: Edmonton, Alberta
February 27 and 28, 2008: Edmonton, Alberta
Focus Group and Stakeholder Review Meetings
Codes, Standards and Related Instruments Research
January 15, 2008: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Insurance Research
January 8, 2008: Toronto, Ontario
January 11, 2008: Edmonton, Alberta
Disaster Management Research
October 22–23, 2007: Gjoa Haven, Nunavut
October 25–26, 2007: Inuvik, Northwest Territories
November 14–15, 2007: Whitehorse, Yukon
January 24–25, 2008: Edmonton, Alberta
EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Heather Auld
Associate Director
Adaptation and Impacts Research Division
Environment Canada
Earle Baddaloo
Director
Environmental Protection (Iqaluit)
Government of Nunavut
Jackie Bourgeois
NRTEE Adaptation Committee Member
Ian Burton
Scientist Emeritus
Adaptation and Impacts Research Division
Environment Canada
David Chernushenko (Chair)
(NRTEE Vice Chair), President
Green and Gold Inc.
Ian R. Church (Associate Chair)
Chair
Canadian IPY National Committee
Darrel Danyluk
Chair
Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers
Cindy Dickson
Director
Circumpolar Relations
Council of Yukon First Nations
Don Lemmen
Research Manager
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Directorate
Natural Resources Canada
Darcie Matthiessen (Alternate)
Climate Change Coordinator
Circumpolar Relations
Council of Yukon First Nations
Gordon A. McBean
Director
Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
The University of Western Ontario
Nancy Olewiler
Director
Public Policy Forum, and
Professor of Economics
Department of Economics, Public Policy Program
Simon Fraser University
Bob Page
(NRTEE Chair); TransAlta Professor
Environmental Management and Sustainability
Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy
University of Calgary
Greg Paoli
Consultant
Decisionalysis Risk Consultants Inc.
Robert Tremblay
Executive Director
Road Safety and Special Projects
Insurance Bureau of Canada
Lisa Van Buren
Manager
Climate Change Adaptation
Environment and Renewable Resources Directorate
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Gary Webster
Assistant Deputy Minister
Regional Integration Branch – Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office
Infrastructure Canada
Leslie Whitby
Director
Environment and Renewable Resources Directorate
Indian and Northern Affairs
Bill Wyness
Senior Technical Officer
Architectural and Structural Technical Support Section
Asset Management Division, Public Works and Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
Eleanor Young
Director
Municipal and Community Affairs Department
Government of the Northwest Territories
MEETING PARTICIPANTS
Peter Akkikungnaq
Contractor and Heavy Equipment Operator
Gjoa Haven, NU
Dave Albisser
City of Whitehorse, Whitehorse, YT
Doug Alpen
Mackenzie River/Arctic
Officer in Charge
Inuvik Marine Communications and Traffic Services
Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Inuvik, NT
Heather Auld
Associate Director
Adaptation and Impacts Research Group
Environment Canada, Downsview, ON
Chris Belanger
Development Assessment Analyst and Coordinator
Community Infrastructure Branch, Community Services
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Lianne Bellisario
Science Advisor
Emergency Management Policy
Public Safety Canada, Ottawa, ON
Beatrice Bernhardt
Director
Community Operations, Kitikmeot
Economic Development and Transportation
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
Phil Borgel
Supervising Engineer
Yukon Electrical, Whitehorse, YT
Sue Bowie
Manager
Implementation Negotiations
Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations
Government of Northwest Territories
Yellowknife, NT
Dan Boyd
Assistant Deputy Minister
Corporate Policy and Communications
Yukon Liquor Corporation
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Elizabeth Bronson
Manager
Product Development
The Dominion of Canada General Insurance
Toronto, ON
Ian Burton
Scientist Emeritus
Adaptation and Impacts Research
Environment Canada, Downsview, ON
Eric Bussey
Director
Territorial Emergency Management
Municipal & Community Affairs Directorate
Government of Northwest Territories
Yellowknife, NT
Lesley Cabott
Manager
City of Whitehorse, Whitehorse, YT
Rick Campbell
Director of Public Works
Town of Inuvik, Inuvik, NT
Neil Carmichael
Director of Nunavut Airports
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
Teddy Carter
Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Organization
Gjoa Haven, NU
Paul Chaulk
Manager
Community Development-Technical
Nunavut Housing Corporation, Cambridge Bay, NU
Sukhi Cheema
Director
Design and Technical Services
Public Works and Services, Technical Support Section
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Ian Church
Chair
Canadian IPY National Committee
Whitehorse, YT
Peter Clarkson
Regional Director
Beaufort Delta
Department of the Executive
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Michael DeBolt
Government Affairs Manager
Insurance Bureau of Canada, Edmonton, AB
Julie Desjardins
Consultant
Desjardins & Associates, Mississauga, ON
Rob Dumont
Principal Scientist
Building Performance
Alternative Energy and Manufacturing
Smart Science Solutions, Saskatoon, SK
Mark Egener
President
Summit Enterprises International Inc., Edmonton, AB
Kellie Emon
Senior Minerals Development Advisor
Mineral Resources Branch
Directorate of Energy, Mines and Resources
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Treva Ennis
Supervisor
Health Programs, Kativik Health Centre
Health and Social Services
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
David Etkin
Coordinator
Emergency Management Program
Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Applied Studies, School of Administration
York University, Toronto, ON
Tim Goos
A/Director
Strategic Integration
Environment Canada, Edmonton, AB
Wayne Guy
Consultant, Yellowknife, NT
John S. Hawkins
Department of Economic Development and Transportation
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
Wally Hidinger
Manager
Transportation Planning & Programming
Directorate of Highways and Public Works
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Michael Hine
Resource Development Officer
Economic Development Department
Indian & Northern Affairs, Iqaluit, NU
Ed Hoeve
Chief Engineer & Principal Consultant
EBA Consultants, Yellowknife, NT
Dan Hogan
Chair
First National Engineering Assessment of the
Vulnerability of Infrastructure to Climate Change
Engineers Canada, Saskatoon, SK
Igor Holubec
Consulting Engineer
I. Holubec Consulting Inc., Oakville, ON
Gurdev Jagpal
Regional Transportation Superintendent, Inuvik
Department of Transportation
Government of Northwest Territories, Inuvik, NT
Richard Janowicz
Manager
Hydrology Section
Directorate of Environment
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Alan Johnson
Manager
Transportation Planning
Economic Development and Transportation
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
Ken Johnson
Consultant, Edmonton, AB
Michael Kalnay
Director
Program Review Office
Executive Directorate
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Raymond Kamookak
Senior Administrative Officer
Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, Gjoa Haven, NU
Richard Kerr
Planned Maintenance, Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator
Yukon Electrical Company Limited, Whitehorse, YT
Brian Kyle
A/Director RPS Technologist
Engineering and Technical Services
Public Works and Government Services Canada, Gatineau, QC
Ann Lanteigne
Department of Transportation
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Bridget Larocque
Executive Director
Gwich’in Council International, Inuvik, NT
Bryan Levia
Environmental Protection Officer
Chair of Yukon Interagency Spills Committee
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Derek Lindsay
Mayor
Town of Inuvik, Inuvik, NT
Alex Love
Director
Technical Services
Yukon Electric Corporation, Whitehorse, YT
Ernest MacGillivray
Director
New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization
Government of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
Sudhansu Majumdar
Project Officer
Projects Division
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Lee Mandeville
Program Coordinator
Land & Environment
Dene Nation, Yellowknife, NT
Kevin McLeod
Director
Highways & Marine
Department of Transportation
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Farrell McGovern
Consultant, Iqaluit, NU
Ken McKinnon
(NRTEE Member), President
McKinnon and Associates General Consulting
Whitehorse, YT
Octavio Melo
Operations Manager
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Gatineau, QC
Alana Mero
International Polar Year Coordinator
Northwest Territories
Aurora Research Institute, Inuvik, NT
Josh Mickleborough
Manager
Technical Support
Department of Highways and Public Works
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Michael Miltenberger
Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance
Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources
Government of Northwest Territories, Whitehorse, NT
Kellie Mitchell
Regional Director-Arctic Region
Public Safety Canada, Yellowknife, NT
Norbert Morgenstern
University Professor (Emeritus) of Civil Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Gabrielle Moser
Senior Analyst
Policies and Priorities Directorate
Infrastructure Canada, Ottawa, ON
Chief Richard Nerysoo
President
Nihtat Gwich’in Council, Inuvik, NT
David Neville
Director
Disaster Financial Assistance and Preparedness Programs
Public Safety Canada, Ottawa, ON
Skye Newnham
Project Engineer
Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Rod Nickel
Manager
Business Development Bank of Canada, Whitehorse, YT
Dr. Norma Nielsen
Professor and Chair
Insurance and Risk Management
Haskayne School of Business
University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Joel Nodelman & Joan Nodelman
Principles
Nodelman Consulting Inc., St. Albert, AB
Randy Patrick
Director
North Slave Region
Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Hay River, NT
Greg Paoli
Consultant
Decisionalysis Risk Consultants Inc., Ottawa, ON
Dr. Ralph Paroli
Director
Building Envelope and Structure
National Research Council, Ottawa, ON
Enuk Pauloosie
Environmental Lands Affairs Officer
Economic Development and Transportation
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
Bruce Perry
Senior Vice President – Deputy Head
Canadian Operations, Canada Branch, and Partner
Reinsurance Europe Limited, Toronto, ON
Neil Phillips
Technical Advisor
Beaufort Delta District Office
Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Inuvik, NT
Glen Plummer
Communications Officer
Provincial Emergency Program
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Government of British Colombia, Victoria, BC
Al Parro
Property Product Manager
Swiss Reinsurance Company, Vancouver, BC
Wally Porter
Community Liaison Officer
Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Cambridge Bay, NU
Lee Ann Pugh
Climate Change/Research Assistant
Department of Environment
Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU
Nathan Pullar
Implementation Manager
NorthwesTel Inc., Whitehorse, YT
Uriash Puqiqnak
Mayor and Director of Community Operations of Hamlet of Gjoa Haven
Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, NU
Blaine Rapp
Safety and Emergency Services Specialist
City of Whitehorse, Whitehorse, YT
Wayne Savigny
Senior Geotechnical Engineer & Engineering Geologist
BGC Engineering Inc., Vancouver, BC
Robert Schmidt
ArcticNet Project 4.7 Research Assistant
Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR)
University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Johanna Smith
Climate Change Coordinator
Environmental Programs Branch
Department of the Environment
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
George Socha
Property Specialist
Guy Carpenter Company Ltd., Toronto, ON
Jim Sparling
Manager, Climate Change Programs
Environmental Protection
Department of the Environment & Natural Resources
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
Bruce Stebbing
Senior Plan Review Officer
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
John Streicker
Climate Change Writer/Consultant
Marsh Lake, YT
Michael Templeton
Supervisor
Wildfire Operations, Community Services
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Doug Thorseth
Supervisor
Building Inspections
Planning and Development Services
City of Whitehorse, Whitehorse, YT
Curtis Time
Implementation Manager
NorthwesTel Inc., Whitehorse, YT
Robert Tremblay
Director
Road Safety and Special Projects
Insurance Bureau of Canada, Toronto, ON
Wayne Tuck
Manager
Engineering and Environmental Services Department
City of Whitehorse, Whitehorse, YT
Jen Turner
Coordinator
Northern Climate Exchange
Northern Research Institute
Yukon College, Whitehorse, YT
Dana Vanier
Research Officer
Concrete Structures
National Research Council
Ottawa, ON
Arvind Vashishtha
Project Engineer
Transportation Department
Government of Northwest Territories, Inuvik, NT
Robin Walsh
Director
Transportation Engineering
Department of Highways and Public Works
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Marsh Wilson
Director
Infrastructure Development Directorate
Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
John Yeulet
Director
Network Service Improvement
Northwestel Inc., Whitehorse, YT
Eleanor Young
Director
Community Operations
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
Yellowknife, NT
Terry Zdan
Acting Research Director
Centre for Sustainable Transportation
University of Winnipeg
Winnipeg, MB
© 2013