QUEEN'S PARK — The Ontario government's new advisory panel on climate change includes Thunder Bay resident Georjann Morriseau, the former Chief of Fort William First Nation.
Environment Minister Jeff Yurek announced the panel Thursday.
Yurek said the 10-member body will advise on the implementation of the government's climate change initiatives, including how Ontarians can prepare for costs and impacts.
It will be chaired by Paul Kovacs, the founder of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at Western University.
"The knowledge exists to prevent losses from flooding, wildfire and other climate extremes," Kovacs said in a statement.
"Working together, we can break the alarming trend of rising severe weather damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure," he said.
Morriseau serves as vice-chair of the Thunder Bay Police Services Board, and was federally appointed as Commissioner, First Nation Tax Commission.
She was also a founding board member for the Governance Development Network, which promotes and builds upon self sustainability within First Nation communities.
In an interview Friday, Morriseau said her new role "is going to be very interesting."
She said in her day-to-day discussions with local residents, she finds that climate change is top of mind.
"It's our duty to do what we can to help protect the environment in certain areas, but also to advise in ways that are reasonable and realistic to protect our future into the long-term," she said.
She added that she's glad she will be able to offer a northern perspective to the panel's deliberations.
CLARIFICATION: The government announcement Thursday stated in error that Morriseau is employed by Resolute Forest Products. She clarified Friday that she no longer workers for Resolute.
