Vancouver/unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples | June 27, 2023 – Today, at a press conference in Vancouver, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault launched Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

In response to the launch, physicians had the following reactions:

Dr. Melissa Lem, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and family physician in Vancouver, BC:

“The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment is proud to have contributed to the development of Canada’s new, world-leading National Adaptation Strategy—and now the real work, implementation, begins. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with governments from the municipal to federal levels, health and community partners to ensure co-benefits for health are maximized as we work together towards a healthy future. Exactly two years after the heat dome caused more than 600 excess deaths in British Columbia alone, we know this work is needed.”

Dr. Samantha Green, president-elect of CAPE and family physician in Toronto:

“While we applaud the National Adaptation Strategy for proposing a strong set of targets for many adaptation scenarios in Canada, there needs to be mechanisms in place to ensure adequate funding and tangible progress towards the targets set. Additionally, the NAS could be expanded to encompass further threats to health including more specific targets on reducing the impacts of wildfires and wildfire smoke on the health of Canadians – clearly necessary after what we’re already experiencing this summer.”

Dr. Sehjal Bhargava, co-chair of the CAPE Ontario committee and Ottawa-based physician:

“The launch of the National Adaptation Strategy and Action plan by the Government of Canada is an essential step towards protecting Canadians from the wide-ranging health and environmental impacts of the climate crisis such as extreme heat events and floods. We look forward to continuing to engage with the Government of Canada to ensure rapid and equitable funding and implementation of this strategy. In addition, while adaptation is essential to protecting the health of Canadians, we need to continue to hold the government accountable to also making strong policy choices to mitigate the longer term harms of the climate crisis.”

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment engages in adaptation work as a member of Climate Proof Canada.

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For physician interviews: 

Anjali Helferty, CAPE executive director, 647-218-9505
media@cape.ca