A Discourse Analysis of Crisis Communication from the Canadian Federal Department: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Abstract

This thesis examines how Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) constructs risk, authority, and institutional identity in crisis communications from 2011 to 2021. Using James Paul Gee's (2011) discourse tools, I analyze federal messaging to understand how ECCC frames environmental risk, asserts credibility, and guides public response. These aspects are studied through qualitative analysis of a significant corpus. Findings show that ECCC's messaging evolves to become more urgent and crisis-focused, particularly in response to climate change. Shifts in identity highlight a strategic adaptation to societal and environmental contexts. This research contributes to knowledge by illustrating how federal institutions use language to mediate public understanding, build legitimacy, and respond to mounting pressures around environmental risks and crises.