WHEREAS the majority of communities within the Province of British Columbia are situated in proximity to rivers, streams and waterbodies, many within floodplains and upon estuaries; AND WHEREAS there have been insufficient funds available to these communities to maintain and improve dykes and flood prevention measures, the consequences of which have been highlighted with the recent catastrophic events in the City of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast where hundreds of lives have been lost and billions of dollars in property damage incurred: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request that the provincial and federal governments develop a comprehensive and sustainable program for funding dykes and flood protection measures for communities in British Columbia.
Ministry of Environment The Ministry of Environment Ministry is responsible for the provincial Dike Safety Program and the administration of the Dike Maintenance Act Act. The Act empowers the Ministry to require effective dike maintenance by diking authorities and to ensure that construction of new dikes and changes to dikes meet provincial standards. Preliminary results from a new Fraser River hydraulic model indicate that most of the Fraser River dikes would not withstand the 1894 design flood, which was set as a provincial standard in 1969. The costs to improve the dikes to updated design levels could exceed several hundred million dollars. The federal government is continuing to develop a National Disaster Mitigation Strategy. Further provincialfederal discussions are required to explore possible federal participation in flood protection funding. Federal participation is key for completion of the larger capital funding projects. The Ministry will continue to implement the provincial dike safety program and work with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the federal government and others, to develop a comprehensive and sustainable funding program for flood protection.
Ministry of Fisheries Oceans Fisheries Oceans Canada DFO does not have a role in funding dyke maintenance and improvement or flood prevention, as referred to in Resolution B18. DFO does, however regulate dyking activities in regards to their potential impact on fish habitat. I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your letter to my colleague, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, for consideration under his Departments Joint Emergency Preparedness Program. Ministry of Public Safety Public Safety Canada does not currently have a program or funding mechanism to support implementation of immediate flood prevention measures. The Department is working in partnership with provincial and territorial officials and other federal government departments to identify possible funding mechanisms for long-term preventionmitigation projects. I want to take this opportunity, however, to inform you that the last two Federal Budgets have provided substantial new funding to the Department of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities for investments in strategic infrastructure. It is through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, that for example, the Department of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities has provided 332.5 million in federal funding for the Red River Floodway expansion project in Manitoba. With respect to the current flooding situation in the Fraser Valley, Public Safety Canada, through the Government Operations Centre and its regional office in British Columbia, is working closely with officials in British Columbia to monitor the flood risk and to support the provinces, flood readiness activities. In the event of a major flood, the role of the Government of Canada would be to coordinate federal activities and resources in support of flood response activities as requested by the Government of British Columbia. Over the next several weeks, Public Safety Canada will continue to work closely with officials in British Columbia in anticipation of any formal requests for assistance. Public Safety Canada also administers the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program JEPP on behalf of the Government of Canada. The JEPP provides cost sharing for emergency response planning, equipment and training. This program was conceived to encourage cooperation between federal and provincialterritorial governments in working toward an enhanced national capability to respond to emergencies of all types. Since its inception in 1980, the JEPP has cost-shared municipally sponsored projects across Canada through provincial and territorial emergency measures organizations. Further information about the JEPP is available on the Public Safety Canada webiste at: www.ps-sp.gc.caprgemjeppindex-en.asp. JEPP proposals must be submitted by the respective provincialterritorial Emergency Management Organization. Public Safety Canadas regional staff in British Columbia participate in discussions involving other federal government departments, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada, to help ensure flood protection issues in British Columbia are effectively coordinated among all levels of government. I would also like to make you aware that in 2004, Public Safety Canada provided a contribution of 10,000 to the Fraser Basin Council to conduct a pilot study on integrated flood hazard management in the Fraser River Basin. The results of this study were used to enhance the Fraser Basin Councils governance structure and broaden its approach to sustainability issue affecting the Basin. My officials will continue their efforts to engage federal and provincialterritorial partners to help ensure flooding issues in Canada are effectively addressed and coordinated among all levels of government. I appreciate having had your concerns on this important issue bought to my attention.