An unprecedented amount of damage caused by severe weather events in 2011, including hurricanes, floods and storms, has cost Canada C$14.8 million, according to Parks Canada’s most recent quarterly financial report. Damage was restricted to the east coast and Quebec but could signal future climate-related disasters. Daniel Scott, Canada Research Chair in Global Change and Tourism at the University of Waterloo, commented that, “It is certainly consistent with what we expect to see coming, particularly on the east coast. There, they’ve got the combination of sea level rise as well as increased intensity or frequency of severe storms.” Parks Canada is facing budget cuts of up to 10 percent and may be forced to raise fees to cover expenses.

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