Government of Canada contributes to flood mitigation projects in Kawartha Lakes

KAWARTHA LAKES, ON, May 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Flooding is Canada's costliest and most frequent natural disaster. Today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Minister of International Development, on behalf of the  Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced over $100,150 in federal funding to the Province of Ontario to support work on two projects under the National Disaster Mitigation Program to better plan for and protect against the effects of flooding.

Kawartha Conservation is leading delivery of these two projects that will contribute to updating and establishing floodplain mapping in the Fenelon Falls South and McLaren's Creek areas. The maps will help protect these communities from flooding events and will guide future land use decisions. The City of Kawartha Lakes has contributed $87,086 for these projects.

Through the recently released Emergency Management Strategy for Canada, the Government of Canada is committed to working with provincial and territorial partners to better identify, plan for and reduce the impact of weather-related emergencies and natural disasters on Canadians.

Quotes

"Canadians are increasingly experiencing the costly effects of climate change through extreme weather events. We need to act purposefully and responsibly to prepare our communities with the supports needed to mitigate this damage. Investing in climate resilience infrastructure is part of our climate plan and part of our plan to grow our economy. Today's announcement will provide Kawartha Conservation with some of the tools required to protect communities in our region from flooding."

- The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Minister of International Development, Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha

"Keeping the people of Ontario safe is a priority our government takes seriously. Flood mitigation projects play an important role in protecting communities and reducing damage caused by extreme weather events. We are pleased to help Kawartha Conservation access funds through the National Disaster Mitigation Program."

- Steve Clark, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

"As the frequency and intensity of severe weather events continue to grow, updating and establishing floodplain mapping is critical to the safety of people and property. These two projects continue to better position Kawartha Conservation and the City of Kawartha Lakes to provide added surety in protecting people and their property from flooding events, and will be used in our planning and permitting activity."

- Mark Majchrowski, Kawartha Conservation Authority CAO

Quick Facts:

• 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. The Government of Canada cost-shares up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses for provincial projects and 75 per cent of eligible expenses for territorial projects. Provincial and territorial authorities may collaborate with, and redistribute funding to eligible entities such as municipal or other local governments.
• Since the launch of the NDMP in 2015, the NDMP has approved funding for 363 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:
• 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;
• 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
• 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 per cent federal disaster assistance payments over the past 20 years.
• Studies have demonstrated that every dollar invested in mitigation generates a savings of six dollars in future disaster costs.

Associated Links

• National Disaster Mitigation Program
• Flood Ready
• Federal Flood Mapping Guidelines
• Integrating climate resilience into the National Building Code 
• Emergency Management Strategy for Canada: Toward a Resilient 2030

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada