Storms and the City: How can Ottawa weather extreme weather events?

Date is still TBD

About the Event

Ottawa faced several storms this year, with a major 100-year storm in May. These storms are very disruptive and cause damage to property and life. The May 21 severe weather event resulted in damage, power outages and service disruptions throughout the city, clean up is still ongoing (after more than 100 days). It is expected that with rising carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the frequency and severity of these storms will increase in the future.

CEP Ottawa is organizing a speaker event to discuss this important issue with various Ottawans. Join the discussion on the 29th of September with Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness.

About Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Naqvi immigrated to Canada from Pakistan with his family in 1988, and grew up learning the values of democracy, social justice, and compassion.

A strong community leader who believes in the importance of giving back, Mr. Naqvi served as a Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario for close to 11 years. During this time, he held the roles of Attorney General of Ontario, Government House Leader, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and Minister of Labour. As a member of the Ontario legislature, he helped raise the minimum wage, ban race-based carding, and modernize the provincial court system. He was also an advocate for public services and sustainable community growth.

Mr. Naqvi served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship from 2019 to 2021. He has also practised international trade and administrative law with major law firms. He has sat on the boards of many community organizations, including OrKidstra, United Way East Ontario, and the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership.

Mr. Naqvi holds a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from McMaster University, as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Carleton University. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 2001 and called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2002.