Federal government investing over $200 million in B.C. for disaster recovery and climate resilience

June 14, 2022, B.C. — Canada’s federal government is working to strengthen and enhance climate adaptation and response measures across the country. The floods and wildfires in British Columbia last year demonstrated the devastating impacts that increasing extreme weather events due to climate change have.

On June 10, following the fourth meeting of the Committee of British Columbia and Federal Ministers on Disaster Response and Climate Resilience, the Hon. Bill Blair, president of the Queen’s Privy Council and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, announced several federal investments to help response and recovery efforts:

• Public Safety Canada is delivering an advance payment of $207 million to the Government of British Columbia through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) to support 2021 wildfire recovery efforts.
• Indigenous Services Canada is providing financial support through the Structural Mitigation program to cover the costs of assessing flood risks to the communities of Nooaitch and Shackan. These communities, as well as Coldwater and Cook’s Ferry, will each receive funding through Indigenous Services Canada’s Lands and Economic Development Services Program to acquire expertise to support work on land issues such as land identification, title searches, land surveys, and early engagement to resolve third party interests.

The Committee, co-chaired by Minister Blair and Minister Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, discussed the important progress being made by the together with First Nations, and outlined how the Committee will continue to work together to protect British Columbians from future climate events.