Minister Day announces $3.5 million to BC for flood recovery assistance
SQUAMISH, B.C., October 12, 2007 — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today announced that the Government of Canada is providing a payment of $3.5 million to the Province of British Columbia, under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), for flooding which occurred in 2003.
"Canada's New Government is committed to protecting the safety of our citizens, and will continue to work with the provinces and territories to assist Canadians when natural disasters strike," said Minister Day. "Furthermore, in order to be better prepared for emergencies, our government passed the Emergency Management Act. This Act strengthens the federal government's readiness to respond to all kinds of emergencies, including forest fires and floods."
"It is important for all levels of government to work together before, during and after emergencies to protect public safety," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John Les. "And, I look forward to continuing to work with my federal counterparts on developing a cost-shared, long-term natural hazards mitigation program that allows communities to proactively address known threats such as flooding."
Heavy rainfall in the fall of 2003 resulted in severe flooding affecting the communities on Vancouver Island and the Southwest area of the province. This DFAA payment of $3.5 million builds on the previous payment of $1.35 million provided to British Columbia to help cover the response and recovery costs.
Additional DFAA payments for the 2003 flood will be made at the request of the province as further eligible provincial expenses are identified.
Through the DFAA, the Government of Canada provides support for eligible provincial and territorial expenses to help them with disaster response and recovery expenses which exceed what they might reasonably be expected to bear on their own. Since the inception of the DFAA in 1970, the Government of Canada has provided more than $1.7 billion to the provinces and territories in disaster response and recovery assistance.
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Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863