On Friday, Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, and Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for British Columbia, announced approximately $10.7 million in federal and provincial funding to support work on 30 flood mitigation projects under the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP).
Through the NDMP, the Government of Canada is addressing rising flood risks and costs and building the knowledge base for informed investments that could reduce, or even negate, the effects of flood events. Funding is available for risk assessments, flood mapping, mitigation planning, and small-scale mitigation projects, such as storm culverts.
“This funding will help protect communities across British Columbia from flooding, and mitigate potential impacts that could result from emergencies,” said Minister Sajjan. “Collaboration across all levels of government is imperative to ensure that Canada is properly prepared in the case of an emergency. The National Disaster Mitigation Program reflects this fundamental need to work together.”
Of the 30 projects announced:
- Sixteen will provide funding for the completion of risk assessments to inform flood risks for a total of $4.95 million;
- Four will help communities identify specific impacts of a flood event on structures and people through the development of flood maps for a total of $3.07 million;
- Three will help communities plan to mitigate against future flooding events for a total of $952,000; and,
- Seven will fund small-scale structural mitigation projects for a total of $3.15 million.
“With the 2017 floods still fresh in our minds, we are pleased to greenlight funding for projects that will help communities identify and mitigate flood risks,” said Farnworth. “The B.C. government is committed to working collaboratively with the Federal and local governments to improve public safety and emergency preparedness for all British Columbians.”
Some municipalities and non-government organizations partnered with British Columbia to provide an additional $1.4 million in support of projects. Over five years, the NDMP has represented an invested of $200 million, of which $183 million is for cost-shared, merit-based projects with provinces and territories to reduce the impacts of natural disasters. Since inception in 2015, the NDMP has funded 166 projects across Canada that are helping to build safer, more resilient communities.
