New Research to Better Support Canadians Recovering from Natural Disasters
May 16 2024 - 8:00AM
As catastrophic events like floods and fires become more frequent
and severe, Canada needs a new approach to supporting community
recovery, according to new research from The Conference Board of
Canada, developed in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross,
Insurance Bureau of Canada, and Public Safety Canada. The four
organizations are advancing disaster recovery research through the
Canadian Resilient Recovery Initiative (CRRI).
“The impact of catastrophic events on Canadian communities are
increasing, but our approach to managing risk and recovery is not
keeping up with the changing circumstances,” stated Babatunde
Olateju, Associate Director of Sustainability, The Conference Board
of Canada. “Working collaboratively with non-governmental
stakeholders and the private sector, government officials need to
develop comprehensive frameworks and policy tools that help
communities recover from disaster events and build resilience to
future risks.”
The research builds on Canada’s recently released National
Adaptation Strategy, which commits to developing a disaster
recovery strategy by 2028. It looks to disaster recovery frameworks
and programs in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand to
identify principles and practices that should be incorporated into
a whole-of-society, made-in-Canada approach to resilient
recovery.
“Every year, the Red Cross assists thousands of Canadians
impacted by the increasing number of climate events in Canada. And
every year, we see that return to home following an event is
longer, more complicated, and more costly than people expect,” said
Amy Avis, Chief of Humanitarian Services at the Canadian Red Cross.
“The Red Cross welcomes this research partnership with the
Conference Board, Public Safety Canada and the Insurance Bureau of
Canada to bring to light challenges and propose meaningful
solutions for change including the development of a national
recovery framework.”
“With climate change increasingly impacting Canadians’
well-being and livelihoods, ensuring a strong recovery after
disasters hit is crucial. I welcome the release of this report and
its contribution to the examination of Canada’s disaster recovery
landscape. I am pleased to see that the findings align with Public
Safety’s ongoing work to introduce a modernized Disaster Financial
Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program in the coming year. The new
DFAA, focused on resilient recovery to support provinces and
territories, also shows how we are delivering on climate change
priorities through the National Adaptation Strategy. Our work
reflects the need to ensure we build resilient communities in the
face of more frequent and severe disasters”. – The Honourable
Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada
and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for
the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.
The CRRI is a multi-year initiative aimed at understanding the
diverse dimensions of community resilience and developing the
capabilities needed to recover effectively from catastrophic
disasters. Future research will focus on topics related to equity,
Indigenous-led recovery, and the economic impacts of disaster
events.
Media Contact
The Conference Board of CanadaE-mail:
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