On May 17, 2018, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, launched the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), a national program that will invest $2 billion in projects that help communities better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, seismic events and droughts.
Climate change is happening and it is affecting Canadian communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. More and more Canadians realize that natural hazards like floods, wildland fires and winter storms are increasing in frequency and intensity. For many communities, these hazards are significantly affecting critical infrastructure such as transport, power grids, water supply, sewage, buildings and dikes. Infrastructure damage can result in health and safety risks, interruptions in essential community services and increasingly high costs for recovery and replacement.
Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, provinces and territories; municipal and regional governments; Canadian public or not-for-profit post-secondary institutions that partner with a Canadian municipality; and band councils and First Nation, Inuit or Métis governments
“Now more than ever, communities across Canada need to take measures to reduce the potential impacts of natural disasters related to climate change. Here in Alberta and across the country, we are experiencing unprecedented extreme weather and feeling its great personal, social and economic effects. Investing today to reduce these impacts will save future recovery costs and prevent critical infrastructure failures while helping Canada transition to a more resilient sustainable economy. This program is about coming together to protect our most precious assets: our people, homes, businesses and the communities we are proud to call home,” said Sohi.
The Government of Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) is a 10-year, $2 billion national program designed to help communities better withstand current and future risks of natural hazards. DMAF will support large-scale infrastructure projects with a minimum cost of $20 million.
DMAF will support changing and reinforcing existing public infrastructure, as well as building new public infrastructure including natural infrastructure, like wetlands, or built infrastructure, dams or dykes, to help address climate risks and protect communities from natural disasters. Projects funded through DMAF will be completed by 2027-28.
Investing in mitigation and adaptation infrastructure projects to strengthen communities against the effects of climate change is critical to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Canadians, promoting economic growth and strengthening the middle class.
DMAF will support large-scale infrastructure projects with a minimum cost of $20 million like diversion channels, wetland restorations, wildfire barriers and setback levees. These projects will safeguard public health and safety, protect people’s homes, make sure access to essential services is not interrupted, and help communities protect their residents’ quality of life.
Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will support large-scale disaster mitigation projects with a minimum eligible cost of $20 million that help ensure continuous essential services and reduce the potential impacts of severe weather and other natural hazards.
Who can apply? Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:
- provinces and territories;
- municipal and regional governments;
- Canadian public or not-for-profit post-secondary institutions that partner with a Canadian municipality;
- Canadian private sector bodies, including for-profit organizations that partner with a Canadian municipality;
- not-for-profit organizations; and,
- Indigenous recipients (e.g., band councils and First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority);
- Not-for-profit organizations whose central mandate is to improve indigenous outcomes;
- Note: Federal entities, including federal Crown corporations, are not eligible for DMAF funding.
Partnerships among eligible recipients and across jurisdictions is encouraged.
Applicants wishing to be considered for funding under the program will have until July 31, 2018, to submit an Expression of Interest to Infrastructure Canada.