Ontario Working to Protect People and Property

Strategy Outlines Next Steps to Reduce Risk and Increase Preparedness for Flooding

News.ontario.ca
March 10, 2020

The Ontario government is taking action to protect people and communities from the effects of flooding by reducing flood risk and helping Ontarians to be better prepared for flooding events.

"We know that we can't prevent flooding in Ontario - we can only become more resilient to it," said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. "Our strategy is designed to increase public awareness and help us to be better prepared and equipped to respond to the devasting effects of flooding."

"We're listening to people from across the province who have been affected by flooding, and that is why we're taking a whole-of-government approach and calling on the federal government, our municipal partners, conservation authorities, industry and Indigenous communities to work with us to implement the actions contained in this strategy."

Ontario's Flooding Strategy focuses on five priority areas:

• Understanding Flood Risk through updated floodplain mapping and increasing access to flood-related information.
• Strengthening Governance through provincial policy to ensure local development is directed away from areas where flooding and erosion present unacceptable risks.
• Enhancing Flood Preparedness through the use of state-of-the art science and technology.
• Enhancing Response and Recovery by improving how we receive and respond to municipal requests for assistance.
• Investing in Flood Risk Reduction by working with the federal government to increase investment in critical areas like mapping and infrastructure.

"Building healthier and safer communities is our top priority and that's why we're taking action to strengthen the province's preparedness for flooding," said Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.  "We'll continue to speak with Ontarians and we'll keep learning more as the strategy is implemented."

The government's flood strategy was informed by public consultations and the expert advice of Doug McNeil, Ontario's Special Advisor on Flooding.

Quick Facts

• The government has provided disaster recovery funding assistance of over $7 million to affected individuals, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations as a result of spring 2019 flooding.
• In spring 2019, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry provided approximately 890,000 sandbags to municipalities throughout southern and eastern Ontario and deployed over 60 Fire Ranger crews and additional support staff to many impacted municipalities.