WHEREAS the provincial government recognizes that sea level rise and subsidence are occurring in communities along the BC coast; AND WHEREAS coastal communities have limited funds for enhancing the level of flood protection: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government, in collaboration with the federal government, develop a long term funding strategy to maintain and improve the level of flood protection for communities.
Ministry of Public Safety Solicitor General The federal and provincial governments have partnered to fund projects that will provide flood protection to communities across British Columbia, including coastal communities. The funding arrangements are brought to communities through the Federal Building Canada Plan, Disaster Mitigation Category of Infrastructure Canada, and the Provincial Flood Protection Program of Emergency Management BC. Flood protection projects implemented under this fund are cost shared between the Federal Building Canada Plan, Emergency Management BC, and the local government of the approved flood protection project. In British Columbia, flood protection is a shared responsibility. The provincial government has indicated that local governments will be required to recognize this through a financial contribution toward flood protection works. This cost sharing is consistent with other infrastructure projects and also with public safety as a shared responsibility. Cost sharing with the federal and local governments maximizes the funds available to assist many communities across British Columbia with flood protection initiatives. We are committed to working with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and local governments in identifying strategies for improving flood protection.
Ministry of Public Safety Resolution B8, the issue of long-term British Columbia Coastal Community Flood Protection, and Resolution B59, the initiation by the Province of a Fire Smart Canada Community Program, fall primarily under the purview of the Government of British Columbia. They do, however, relate to Public Safety Canadas mandate in emergency management EM. EM is a shared responsibility between all levels of government. Within Canadas constitutional framework, provincial and territorial governments and local authorities provide the first response to the vast majority of emergencies, including floods and wildfires. In fact, over 90 of emergencies are handled by municipal governments. The Government of Canada is focused on maintaining a safe and resilient Canada. In that regard, Public Safety Canada develops national policies, response systems and standards to reduce the impact of emergencies that could affect Canadas population and infrastructure. With respect to Resolution B8, I share your concern regarding the impact of potential flooding and the need for effective flood management for British Columbia communities. For this reason, the Government of Canada has contributed to measures taken by the Government of British Columbia to enhance flood control and prevention. In addition, the federal government, together with Provincial and Territorial governments, launched the National Disaster Mitigation Strategy, which facilitates the development and leveraging of new and existing mitigation strategies. In this Strategy, two initiatives are identified which enable the cost-sharing or structural disaster mitigation across the country. First, disaster mitigation infrastructure has been identified as an eligible project category through the Local and Community Priorities Category of the Infrastructure Framework Agreement between the Governments of Canada and British Columbia, as part of the 8.8B Building Canada Fund. Under the Building Canada Fund, infrastructure investments for disaster mitigation can be directed toward initiatives that reduce the vulnerability of a community or public infrastructure to the negative impacts of extreme natural events. Second, under Public Safety Canadas Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements guidelines, cost-sharing for mitigation enhancements of damaged infrastructures to reduce vulnerability to future events can be considered on a case-by-case basis for disasters. The value of enhancements eligible for cost-sharing is limited to 15 for the estimated cost to repair eligible infrastructure to pre-disaster condition. The Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements provide federal cost-sharing for provincialterritorial response and recovery expenditures following significant natural disasters including floods and wildfires. Ministry of Environment As you will be aware, responsibility for water management falls under several orders of government. However, flooding and flood management are issues falling under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and provinces and territories have primary jurisdiction over most areas of water management and protection. Generally, the provinces and territories delegate some responsibilities to municipalities, such as flood forecasting. responsibility for watershed management, which includes flooding, may also be delegated to conservation authorities. Therefore, the Government of British Columbia would be a more appropriate authority to respond to such issues form a government standpoint.