The costs of climate disasters in Canada are incredibly significant. A perfect example is Jasper. Jasper prepared tremendously because it knew the risk of wildfires and knew that wildfires were being made more violent and more likely because of climate-related weather changes. Despite those preparations, 30% of Jasper burned down.
Think about the impact on the residents of Jasper. For most of us, our home is our biggest single investment. Many residents of Jasper lost their homes. They had to deal with an unfamiliar experience in insurance, and because the entire town was affected, they had literally nowhere to go. Add to this, of course, the businesses, and the costs are extraordinary.
We can't adapt our way out of climate because the costs are big and because these kinds of damages are so significant. I think this needs to be front and centre when we're thinking about Canada's climate strategy. Should we do our part and do what we've agreed to with other nations so that nations together can address the problem, or do we want to face many more “Jaspers” over time?
We saw this summer that Newfoundland was on fire, for example. I certainly never thought I would see it in my lifetime—Newfoundland on fire. This is real. It's serious. The costs are immense. Once the headlines are over, the recovery continues. Jasper is still rebuilding, and it will be for a very long time. It's not the only one.