Dear Neighbours,
Spring is here at last! We say this with a sigh of relief every year in Calgary as we emerge from a solid six months of winter. This winter brought with it see-sawing temperatures, the inevitable cold snap in January, an early spring in March – and a prompt return to winter in late March. In other words, a typical Calgary winter. But this past winter was also one of the driest in recent memory. Snowpack was 40 to 50% below average in some cases. While this dry winter can be partly attributable to the El Niño weather pattern, the overarching factor is climate change.
Climate change makes Alberta extremely vulnerable to both droughts and flooding. This summer, it looks as though drought will dominate. In response, numerous municipalities across the province have already or will restrict water usage in preparation for the hot, dry months ahead. What role does the province play in all this? The answer is in prevention. In order to forestall the worst effects of climate-fuelled drought our province must plan ahead.
My colleague Sara Elmeligi (Banff-Kananaskis) has outlined three important elements of a successful drought response. The first is regional coordination. This means the provincial government and municipalities working together to coordinate their response to areas that are most severely affected by drought and ensuring resources are allocated to communities with the greatest need.
Second, is the restoration and expansion of Alberta’s wetlands. Wetlands provide natural protection against drought, as they help to store rain and spring runoff, and serve to maintain water levels in our rivers, lakes, and streams.
Lastly, and most importantly, is acknowledging and addressing climate change. You cannot fix a problem if you do not believe it exists. The provincial government needs to meaningfully address our own carbon emissions and their impact on the planet. We can do this while growing the economy and helping the oil and gas industry make the climate-friendly investments that will create good jobs. Without addressing carbon dioxide pollution, more severe ecological disasters that come with a warming planet are inevitable.
These will be difficult years ahead, as we face the prospect of multi-year droughts and ever-increasing forest fires, interspersed with flooding, but I have no doubt that if Albertans come together for a common purpose, we can meet the challenges of climate change.
Should you have any other questions or concerns, my office is located at 205, 5005 Elbow Drive SW. You can also reach me at [email protected] or by phone at 403-252-0346. My door is always open.
MLA – Calgary Elbow Samir Kayande proudly serves the following Communities: Altadore, Bel-Aire , Britannia, Elbow Park, Elboya, Erlton, Garrison Green, Garrison Woods, Glamorgan, Lincoln Park, Lower Mount Royal, Marda Loop, Mayfair, Meadowlark Park, Mount Royal, North Glenmore Park, Parkhill, Rideau Park, River Park, Roxboro, South Calgary, Upper Mount Royal, Windsor Park
