Speech

Notes for Remarks by the Honourable Peter Kent, P.C., M.P., Minister of the Environment, to announce investments to improve weather and marine services in the Arctic, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, February 22, 2011

Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us. I am delighted to be here today in Yellowknife, in order to make two important announcements that will affect this beautiful part of the country.

Back in 2007, Prime Minister Harper announced Canada’s Northern Strategy—a well-considered plan to improve and protect Canada’s North, not just for northerners but for all Canadians.

In the past three years, we’ve put that strategy into action. We’ve amended legislation to get tough on polluters in Arctic waters. And we’ve made it mandatory for vessels heading North to report to NORDREG, Canada’s northern marine traffic system.

These measures have greatly strengthened safety and environmental protection in the Arctic.

When it comes to providing marine services in the Arctic, Canada is already an international leader. But with leadership comes responsibility. As part of our commitment to the International Maritime Organization, for example, Canada must help ships navigate safely through two newly‑defined Arctic areas that are largely within Canadian waters.

In Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Harper Government allocated funds to increase marine safety and reduce pollution in Northern waters. And that’s why today I am delighted to announce an investment of $34.8 million over five years to improve weather and maritime services in the Arctic.

My department, Environment Canada, will receive $26.5 million over five years, while Fisheries and Oceans Canada will receive the balance [of $8.3 million] over the same period.

These funds will be used specifically to expand Canada’s capacity to monitor the environment, and get information out to those who need it. It will allow us to provide Arctic mariners with daily weather and ice information essential for safe routing through ice-infested waters. The service will also provide mariners with navigational information, weather warnings and other safety messages. I cannot think of a more fitting way to recognize the 140^th anniversary of Environment Canada’s Meteorological Service, which takes place this year.

The expansion also means we’ll move to comprehensive coverage in Canada’s Arctic waters, and go from seasonal services to offering year‑round, round-the-clock delivery. And it also means that we will not only be covering our international areas of responsibility, but we will be providing better marine forecasts, warnings and information to Canadians working and living in the North.

Enhancing this critical infrastructure will go a long way towards improving weather and maritime services in the Arctic. And it is in keeping with this theme of enhancement, that I am also very pleased today to announce the expansion of our Weatheradio service in the Northwest Territories.

Environment Canada’s Weatheradio service is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to receive current weather forecasts and severe weather information. This nationwide network broadcasts weather and environmental information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, directly from Environment Canada’s storm prediction centres… and most importantly it provides Canadians with a key warning tool in the face of approaching severe weather. 

The expansion includes seven additional Weatheradio Canada broadcast locations, which have been activated in the Northwest Territories, and an additional two sites expected to be up and running by this summer. Weatheradio broadcasts are now accessible to residents of Tuktoyaktuk, Norman Wells, Nahanni Butte, Fort Providence, Fort McPherson, Fort Simpson and Behchoko. With the inclusion of these new locations and those planned for the summer, Weatheradio will be available to 93 per cent of the Northwest Territories population.

On January 25^th of this year, Weatheradio receivers were also sent to 20 schools in the North, in communities where a signal is available. In doing so, Environment Canada, through funding from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, is proud to be partnering with the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Department of Transportation.

These investments reflect this Government’s continued commitment to our world-class scientific research that can benefit the long-term growth and development in the North.

By beefing up Canada’s presence in the Arctic, and ensuring it is better prepared to deal with severe weather events, we are protecting this sensitive natural environment and its people, while honouring our international commitments… therefore delivering on the leadership we promised in Canada’s Northern Strategy.

Thank you.