TORONTO — The Ontario government has announced updates to its anti-flooding policies.
The updates to Ontario’s Flooding Strategy “will help ensure that the public is better prepared for flooding events and flood risk is reduced for communities across the province,” stated a recent release.
Flooding strategy initiatives over the last year include:
- Improvements to the province’s emergency response system. Emergency management software will improve tracking, reporting and management of incidents and emergencies. Newly introduced software will also support municipal emergency management co-ordinators’ requests for assistance.
- Initiation of the provincial climate change impact assessment will provide a greater understanding of how climate change is expected to impact the province, including flood risk.
- Support for municipalities through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, which helps small, rural and northern communities invest in local infrastructure and asset management planning to address priority needs including flood protection and climate adaptation.
- Collaboration with municipalities and watershed agencies in Muskoka, Magnetawan and Upper Ottawa river areas on water management decisions.
The government also allotted $2 million in additional funding to extend the Build Back Better pilot project through 2023, assisting eligible municipalities in rebuilding infrastructure damaged by extreme weather to a higher standard through the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance program.
“Building safer and healthier communities is one of our top priorities,” said Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry John Yakabuski in the release. “That is why our government continues to work collaboratively with all levels of government, industry, partner organizations and the public to increase Ontario’s resiliency to flooding.”
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