Whereas the Province of British Columbia has not increased the limit on Disaster Financial Assistance Funding DFA for homeowner applications since 1996; And whereas since 1996 the cost and value of property in the Lower Mainland has significantly increased, creating a gap that prevents property owners from reasonably overcoming catastrophic loss: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia and Emergency Management BC to increase the DFA limit on homeowner applications and consider implementing a framework that ties DFA compensation to BC Assessment values.
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Building on the series of improvements to the Disaster Financial Assistance DFA program made in April 2022, Government increased the maximum payment for private sector applicants households, small businesses, farm operations, and charitable or volunteer organizations from 300,000 to 400,000 in September 2022. This new limit will apply to all DFA claims submitted for the November 2021 Atmospheric River event, and any future events where DFA is declared. Government will continue to actively review the DFA program and make changes as required. As part of the Emergency Program Act modernization, the Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance regulation, which governs the DFA program, will also be updated. EMBC is reviewing several aspects of the DFA program which includes fairness, equity e.g. prioritizing vulnerable applicants, addressing gaps, assessing claims in a manner that is trauma-informed, efficient administration, how compensation is calculated, etc. Government applies the associated DFA regulation and policies in a fair and consistent manner. When required by the regulation, the propertys assessed values are used in calculating DFA. Assistance for structural damage is limited to the lesser of the costs to repair, rebuild, replace, and the assessed value of the structure. Assessed values of structures only apply to eligible structures on the property i.e. does not include land and may not include all the improvements as indicated on the notice of assessment. Financial assistance is provided for each accepted claim at 80 percent of the amount of total eligible damage less 1,000, to a maximum of 400,000.