More than 120 municipal officials across Canada have signed an open letter urging federal political leaders to prioritize climate resilience, citing the rising insurance costs and economic disruption caused by severe weather events, CBC reported.
The letter, addressed to the leaders of Canada’s five main federal parties, calls for investments in infrastructure and housing that would reduce the financial and social impacts of climate-related disasters.
With the federal election campaign largely focused on trade and economic issues, the municipal leaders are pressing to ensure that climate resilience and its growing insurance implications are part of the national discussion.
Key proposals include a national electric grid that extends to the North, a high-speed rail network, two million non-market “green” homes, energy retrofits, and a comprehensive national strategy focused on resilience, response, and recovery.
Recent environmental events have underscored the financial pressure these disasters are placing on communities and the insurance system. In August, Montreal experienced flooding that the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) estimates caused nearly $2.5 billion in insured damage, making it the costliest weather event in Quebec’s history. In July, wildfires in Jasper, Alberta, led to a mass evacuation and the destruction of more than 800 homes.
Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, one of the signatories, said a national resilience strategy could have helped speed up recovery efforts in his town and reduced the time residents spent waiting for interim housing. He pointed to building codes and fire prevention measures as practical tools that could reduce future losses. “Sadly, we feel that although we are perhaps the most recent community to go through this experience, we probably won't be the last,” Ireland said.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante echoed similar concerns, arguing that the growing severity of climate events requires a coordinated federal approach. “What we need are programs that not only significantly reduce pollution but also help rebuild our communities, as climate disasters continue to intensify,” she said.
The group of municipal leaders also raised concerns about continued public investment in fossil fuel infrastructure. The letter argues that such projects increase long-term climate risk and insurance exposure. It proposes redirecting fossil fuel subsidies and increasing taxes on high-emitting industries to fund resilience initiatives, the report said.
According to IBC and other industry stakeholders, the frequency and intensity of severe weather events continue to drive up insurance claims, contributing to higher premiums and reduced availability of coverage in high-risk areas.
Industry observers have warned that without adaptation and mitigation strategies, insurance may become unaffordable or unavailable in some regions.
