This week John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, announced the province’s strategy to protect communities from the effects of flooding by reducing flood risk and to help Ontarians to be better prepared for flooding events. The government’s flood strategy focuses on five priority areas and was informed by public consultations and advice from Doug McNeil, Ontario’s Special Advisor on Flooding.
The five priority areas of Ontario’s flood strategy:
- 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.
Minister Yakabuski said, “We know that we can’t prevent flooding in Ontario – we can only become more resilient to it. 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.”
The Minister’s press release provides the following links for more information:
- Protecting People and Property: Ontario’s Flooding Strategy
- Information for property owners on flood preparedness and recovery (Ontario.ca/floods)
Teplycky,J. MNRF (2020,Mar.9) Ontario Working to Protect People and Property: Strategy Outlines Next Steps to Reduce Risk and Increase Preparedness for Flooding [media release]
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John……support planting trees!