Quinte Conservation testifies in Ottawa

Quinte Conservation headed to Ottawa this week to testify at the Federal Environment Committee, which is studying disaster mitigation for severe flooding and other extreme weather events.

Quinte Conservation CAO Brad McNevin tells Quinte News, “There’s a lot of interest in climate change as a driver of disaster. I was there to focus the discussion on Quinte Conservation and conservation in general. As to how we can help with disaster mitigation programs and services that conservation authorities can provide to mitigate disasters such as flooding and wildfires that impact our climate.”

He says the $250,000 the federal government provided for climate change management over the next couple of years, helping with drought management for all 18 municipalities.

But, McNevin indicated he told the committee of another need.

He also suggested the federal government should invest in monitoring flood issues.

McNevin told the committee “climate change is directly impacting our weather and our communities.”

In light of record flooding in the community again this year, just two years after 2017’s historic flooding, McNevin added a statement that “we need to promote forest preservation, support tree-planting programs, enhance and strengthen protection measures for watercourses, wetlands, and headwater drainage features. We need to ensure that development is located in the right place, not in floodplains and wetlands.”