Today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women and Member of Parliament for Peterborough—Kawartha, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced $46,000 over 18 months to the province of Ontario under the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) to better plan for and prevent the effects of flooding

“Weather-related natural disasters are getting more severe, more frequent, more damaging and more expensive.  This is a threat not only to the safety of our communities, but to our economic stability.  The Government of Canada is determined to reduce these risks in partnership with provinces and territories.  The project announced today will help Ontario better prepare for and respond to flooding.”

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“I welcome this funding as it will equip the City of Kawartha Lakes with the updated tools needed to help prevent and mitigate flooding in the area as well as assist the community’s efforts in managing emergencies.  Water connects our communities, and ensuring smart management of this resource will see benefits across the region.”

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women and Member of Parliament for Peterborough—Kawartha

“Ontario commends the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority for its leadership in taking important steps to reduce flood risk. Our government will continue to help municipalities and others access federal funding for flood mitigation projects through the National Disaster Mitigation Program. In this changing climate, we all have a role to play in planning for disasters in our communities, so that our most valuable assets are protected.”

Bill Mauro, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs

“This project will serve as an important update to the existing floodplain mapping for the area. Ultimately with newer technology and processes we will be able to refine the Mariposa Brook floodplain mapping which will provide added surety in protecting people and their property from flooding events, and will also be used in our planning and permitting activity.”

Mark Majchrowski, Kawartha Conservation Chief Administrative Officer

• The NDMP reflects an investment of $200 million over five years, of which $183 million is available 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.

• Through the NDMP, the Government of Canada is helping to address rising flood risks and costs, and build the foundation 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.

• In addition to investing in provincial and territorial flood mitigation projects through the NDMP, the Government of Canada:
  

  o    Is investing in public awareness activities and risk and resiliency tools like the Federal Flood Mapping Guidelines, to help all levels of government to make informed decisions around flood mitigation;
  
  o    Has created a new $2 billion federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to support the infrastructure required to deal with the effects of a changing climate; and
  
  o    Is integrating climate resilience into the National Building Code and conducting research to factor climate resilience into the design of buildings.
  

• According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, insured damage in 2016 topped $4.9 billion – passing the previous annual record of $3.2 billion set in 2013—and that the annual economic cost of disasters around the world has increased five-fold since the 1980s.   Flooding damage has accounted for 80% of federal disaster assistance payments over the past 20 years.

• Studies have demonstrated that when structural and non-structural investments are implemented in concert, the result is that for every dollar invested there is a $4 reduction in costs of a disaster.

Associated Links

• National Disaster Mitigation Program
• Flood Ready
• Federal Flood Mapping Guidelines
• Integrating climate resilience into the National Building Code

Scott Bardsley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681
scott.bardsley@canada.ca

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
media@ps-sp.gc.ca