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Results of each workshop

Workshop on the vulnerability of structures in the fluvial environment

Direction: Reduce the impact of flooding on the built environment by factoring climate change into land management.

Projects

Identify and develop a new prospective mapping methodology, taking into account the socioeconomic and legal impacts of the planned changes

This project would unite various partners and specialists (Ouranos, university researchers, MDDELCC, MSP, Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Occupation du territoire [MAMOT], decision makers, public) in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Review existing initiatives in or outside Quebec in terms of methodologies that take climate change into account.
    • Conduct a literature review on the socioeconomic and legal issues.
    • Confirm the selection of a new methodology.
    • Define and acquire the necessary knowledge (ice jams, flow regime, etc.).
    • Possible steps in the production of a working map to stimulate discussion among users.
Review urban zoning bylaws and building codes

This project would be carried out over five years beginning when the new maps are received and would involve the collaboration of various partners and specialists (MAMOT, MSP, MDDELCC, cities and regional county municipalities [RCMs]) in pursuit of the following objective:

    • Incorporate the new maps and normative framework into planning and regulation tools.
Incorporate climate change into the design or updates of emergency preparedness plans

This project would prioritize shoreline and coastal municipalities and would be implemented by 2020. It would involve the collaboration of municipal, governmental (e.g., MAMOT, MSP, MDDELCC) and private-sector stakeholders in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Enhance the preparedness of municipal governments that are responsible for emergency measures within their municipalities.
    • Raise stakeholder awareness of the new challenges imposed by climate change.
    • Reduce impacts on residents and property and build a culture of emergency preparedness.

Workshop on the vulnerability of ecosystems in the fluvial environment

Direction: Increase the area of natural environments in the St. Lawrence River watershed to 20% through protection or restoration.

Projects

Create a fund dedicated to the St. Lawrence River in order to help organizations achieve the 20% protected areas objective

This project would make it possible to create a fund managed by an independent body and financed with levies by 2017. It would involve the collaboration of various partners and specialists (federal and provincial governments, municipalities, private foundations, NGOs, users) in pursuit of the following objective:

    • Exclusively fund protected area projects.
Protect and restore sensitive areas of interest in the St. Lawrence River watershed

This project would be carried out over 10 years, with the goal of addressing the priority sites within 5 years. It would involve the collaboration of departments (MDDELCC, EC, MAPAQ), collaborative organizations (ZIP committees, watershed organizations, regional round tables, Union des producteurs agricoles [UPA]) and other entities (NGOs, industries) in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Identify, characterize and prioritize sensitive areas (public land, wetlands, contaminated sites, riparian strips).
    • Provide long-term protection.
    • Carry out restoration through regulation and enforcement.
    • Achieve the goal of 20% per region.
Acquire protected area status for the entire St. Lawrence River (public portion)

This project would seek to acquire legal status for the river, riparian strips, tributaries (public section), and 0- to 20-year or 0- to 2-year flood zone, as the case may be, between Cornwall and the Gaspé Peninsula, including the Magdalen Islands, by 2017–2019. It would involve the collaboration of the federal, provincial and municipal governments in pursuit of the following objective:

    • Legally recognize the river, including its riparian strips and tributaries (public portion), as well as the 0- to 20-year (or 0- to 2-year) flood zone, as the case may be.

Workshop on the vulnerability of uses in the fluvial environment

Direction: Promote responsible water resource uses that take into account the impact of climate change on the availability and quality of the resource.

Projects

Water squad (subset of the Maison du Saint-Laurent)

This project would create a “water squad” for the entire St. Lawrence in 2017 to deliver educational sessions organized by NGOs and communications, environment and education specialists in pursuit of the following objective:

    • Promote concrete changes in practices by targeting industries, schools and families.
Free flow of water

This project would involve developing a decision support tool to survey all tributaries of the river portion of the St. Lawrence for an inventory of all structures that impede the free flow of water and the free movement of the wildlife species that depend on it. It would involve the collaboration of RCMs, municipalities, regional conferences of elected officials, NGOs, governments, UPA and First Nations in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Inventory all structures that impede the free flow of water and the free movement of the wildlife species that depend on it.
    • Identify the remedial actions to be implemented.
    • Raise awareness of the vulnerability of the water resource.
One step at a time

This short-term project would involve the collaboration of various partners and specialists (e.g., regional round tables, ZIP committees, watershed organizations, regional environment councils, Ouranos, governments, St. Lawrence Action Plan Climate Change Coordination Committee, MDDELCC Office of Climate Change, universities) in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Produce tools; group stakeholders around knowledge needs.
    • Promote collaboration.

Workshop on the vulnerability of ecosystems in the marine environment

Direction: Promote the acquisition and tracking of data on ecosystem components sensitive to climate change and ensure that the information is disseminated to all stakeholders.

Projects

Thematic issue of Le Naturaliste canadien on the impact of climate change on the marine environment

This project would be carried out by winter 2015 and would involve the collaboration of various partners and subject-matter specialists in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Disseminate existing knowledge on climate change.
    • Solicit the participation of stakeholders involved in climate change in order to disseminate their knowledge.
Promote the resilience of maritime Quebec communities and ecosystems to climate change

This project would be carried out from 2017 to 2020 and would involve the collaboration of various partners and specialists (EC, MDDELCC, Ministère des Transports du Québec [MTQ], MSP, DFO, St. Lawrence Global Observatory [SLGO], regional round tables, ZIP committees, UQAR, Ouranos, Aboriginal communities and municipalities) in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Promote knowledge transfer by developing decision-making tools.
    • Protect ecosystems.
    • Amend regulations.
Uniting science and citizens to better tackle climate change

This short-term project would involve the collaboration of various scientific, community (SLGO, ZIP committees, regional round tables), municipal, academic and science outreach (museums, aquariums) partners and specialists in pursuit of the following objectives:

    • Promote the acquisition of various data on the coastal environment.
    • Facilitate information tracking and dissemination (web platform).
    • Raise all stakeholders’ awareness in order to support decision making.

Workshop on the vulnerability of structures and uses in the marine environment

Direction: Strengthen the resilience of coastal communities.

Projects

Horizon 20-20

This project would be carried out with the collaboration of neighbouring vulnerable communities, which would unite to tackle issues in pursuit of the following objective:

  • Pool the resources of the most deprived communities to achieve results – acquire the means to achieve results.
Res-alliance: Create a network of resilient communities

This project would involve the collaboration of affected communities, including First Nations and various governmental, municipal (Union of Quebec Municipalities [UMQ], Fédération québécoise des municipalités [FQM], RCMs) and other (universities, watershed organizations, industries) partners in pursuit of the following objective:

  • Unite communities affected by climate change and promote discussions and practices.
Operation Freezer: Simulating risks for practice

This project would involve the collaboration of local elected officials, residents, universities and government (MSP) representatives within at-risk communities in pursuit of the following objective:

  • Test the ability of a community to autonomously handle a crisis using a simulation.

Direction: Identify risks related to climate change in order to develop an action plan that the entire community can understand.

Project

Understanding decision time

This project would involve the collaboration of local communities and various partners (RCMS, chambers of commerce, regional tourism associations) in pursuit of the following objectives:

  • Increase communities’ knowledge and ensure that the results of specialists’ field work benefit local communities and lead to concrete projects.
  • Draw inspiration from residents’ knowledge and experience.