Whereas diking infrastructure is crucial to flood mitigation for the protection of residents and the general public; And whereas the provincial government will only allocate funding for dike upgrades which meet high-cost seismic standards; And whereas neglecting dike upgrades while trying to facilitate designs that are to seismic standards could leave residents vulnerable to flooding disasters and exposed to massive and inevitable response costs in the interim: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government consider applications for funding for dike upgrades which may not meet seismic standards, but would allow for essential and cost-effective minor upgrades.
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General The Province remains committed to investing in disaster risk reduction, including flood protection infrastructure in partnership with local authorities and First Nations. Mitigation funding programs require applicants to meet applicable provincial legislation, regulations and guidelines such as the Dike Maintenance Act to reduce unintended consequences to public safety, environmental, cultural, and other values. This commitment is core to current and future funding programs. Seismic Design Guidelines help to ensure continued flood protection in the Lower Mainland, even after a damaging earthquake. Emergency Management BC has no authority through its funding programs to alter the requirements of, or influence, a Dike Maintenance Act approval decision. It should be noted that the Seismic Design Guidelines apply to new and major upgrades to high consequence dikes. As such, some minor upgrades may be funded without triggering Seismic Design Guideline requirements. Emergency Management BC encourages communities to work with qualified professionals and regulatory staff at the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to incorporate permitting requirements early in the mitigation funding application process.