Climate Change Implications for Northern Development Presentation to the Task Force June 13 th, 2001 Presenter: Gordon Wakeling GM & CEO – The Development Fund

Thoughts: “The Future does not happen all at once – it accumulates routinely. Occasionally the routine is punctuated by exception” Anon “Why should we worry about climate change? It is difficult to predict what the specific regional impacts will be. It is certain, however, that the overall impacts will be harmful. This will be particularly true for those regions of the world that are least responsible for producing greenhouse gases, yet are the most directly affected – the small island states and impoverished areas of the developing world, for example.” CEC

Outline Northern Development Northern Economic Advantages Challenges to Government Program Design and Emphasis Information and Communication of Opportunities Threats to Northern Development

Northern Development Redress Economic Disparities South to North Northern Industrial to Northern Rural Transportation, Communication Sustainable Communities Strengthening Aboriginal Participation in the Economy Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Group

Northern Economic Advantages Resources – Mineral and Renewable Watershed Through North Power Generation Industrial Water Needs Transportation Route to World Markets Natural Splendor Tourism

Challenges to Government Program Design and Emphasis Identify and De-emphasize “sunset” Industries Emphasize New Opportunities due to Change Government Needs To: Be Ready and Willing to Adapt Changing resource allocations (e.g Forestry) Provide Infrastructure (Transportation, Communication) Provide Information Communicate Opportunities

Threats to Northern Development External Decision Making View of North as an Empty Wilderness Low Residual Benefit from Use of Resources

Conclusion Climate change adds a further dynamic to the process of developing the North. Government needs to draw the lessons it learns in considering climate change into the adaptation of policies and programs related to economic development in Northern Manitoba In addition to the more obvious environmental and conservation role government has in meeting objectives to slow GHG emissions and try to reduce/slow climate change, it has a role to play as a resource in identifying opportunity and challenge resulting from the change. The North needs to be consulted in matters of land use and resource allocation, permitting it to maximize benefits, and to avoid the loss of opportunity which could result from external decisions.