Question Period Note: Impact of Floods in BC

Impact of Floods in BC.

KEY MESSAGES
• The Government of Canada will always be there to help Canadians in need. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost loved ones and all those affected by the flooding in British Columbia.

• The federal government is working with provincial partners and is coordinating a whole-of-government federal response to ensure that the province has the resources it needs to support the people of BC.

• The well-being of British Columbians is our priority and we are committed to supporting economic recovery and long-term resiliency in communities.

BACKGROUND
Record rain fell across swathes of British Columbia and Washington State on November 14 and 15, 2021. The event follows an unusually wet fall, as well as BC’s third worst wildfire season on record, which has limited the land’s capacity to absorb excess water and destabilized top soil.

Highway washouts have meant that BC’s lower mainland is now cut off from the rest of the province. Most major highways in the area are expected to be closed for the foreseeable future and travel restrictions are expected on smaller routes to allow for the transportation of essential goods. The Fraser Valley, which has been heavily impacted by flooding, is one of Canada’s most productive agricultural regions. Many large-scale cattle, dairy and poultry producers are unable to access or supply feed to their animals. Significant losses have already been experienced.

Both impacted areas and areas not impacted by flood-related supply chain issues are witnessing hording behaviour. This has placed further strain on the capacity of suppliers to provide essential goods more broadly throughout the province.

The provincial government declared a formal State of Emergency on November 17. The Department of Defence has deployed troops to the region to provide logistical support and frontline emergency relief. Emergency Preparedness Canada in collaboration with the Province is convening regular meetings between government and industry stakeholders to help ensure coordination. PacifiCan is engaged in these discussions at the ADM level.

• The impact of the flooding in BC is widespread, including in multiple Indigenous communities, and the emergency response is complex. This is expected to be the most costly natural disaster in Canadian history.
• Access to fuel and essential goods, mitigating losses in the agricultural sector and transportation infrastructure are immediate concerns.
• Thousands of workers in our ports, terminals, railway and trucking sectors are working hard and collaborating to keep our supply chain flowing. Canadian supply chains are resilient and major efforts are underway to rebuild, recover, and restore operations.
• We would like to acknowledge and extend our appreciation to the first responders, search and rescue volunteers and emergency managers working hard to keep people safe during this time.
• Providing relief, and recovering from the aftermath of a flood, is a long-term proposition, and we are committed to providing the necessary assistance to get people through this difficult time.