The Ontario government has revealed its Flooding Strategy.
The strategy was announced by minister of natural resources and forests John Yakabuski, who revealed the document Monday in Minden – an Ontario community that was severely flooded last spring, Ottawa Citizen reported. The strategy has a list of recommendations on how locals can better manage flooding risks, but markedly makes no mention of provincial funding.
“The most cost-effective and sustainable way of reducing risks is to keep people and property out of high-risk areas,” the strategy reads. The document also states that flooded property owners should be able to return to their land and “restore [the property] to pre-flood conditions,” but that they should also ensure that measures have been taken to make the property more “resilient” against future floods.
The document mentioned that all levels of government should be involved in the management of flood risks. While local governments should hold the “primary responsibility” for identifying and managing risks based on science, both the provincial and federal governments must play critical roles in supporting local decision-making, the strategy said.
“Risks should be managed in strong partnership with municipalities, Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities, the federal government, private landowners, industry and Indigenous communities,” the document stressed.
The strategy also calls for updated flood-plain mapping. A recommendation for a technical team from all levels of government to evaluate the current state of flood plain mapping was made. Cooperation between the provincial and federal government to increase investment in flood mapping and infrastructure was also suggested.
Notably, the document admitted that with so many agencies involved in flood risk management, “governance can be confusing, and policies can slip through the cracks.”
“The province acknowledges the need to clarify these roles and responsibilities and ensure policies are being implemented appropriately with all applicable partners,” the strategy noted.
