Harper Government calls for National Disaster Mitigation Program proposals

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Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Apr 17, 2015, 17:42 ET

OTTAWA, April 17, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness today launched the first call for proposals for the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP).

In Economic Action Plan 2014, our Government committed to providing $200 million in funding over five years, starting in 2015-16 to develop the National Disaster Mitigation Program. As announced in January 2015, the NDMP will focus mainly on flood mitigation, to better protect Canadians, their homes, and communities.

This funding is in addition to the investments made under the New Building Canada Fund. Announced in Economic Action Plan 2013, the New Building Canada Fund provides $14 billion to support significant infrastructure projects in Canada as identified by the provinces and territories, which can include mitigation infrastructure to help prevent floods and other natural disasters.

The investments in flood-risk identification and prevention measures through the NDMP reflect our Government's shift towards a proactive disaster relief model that will better protect Canadians and their communities from the costs and heartache associated with reoccurring flooding.

Quick Facts

  • Flood mitigation investments are needed in Canada. Since being created in 1970, the DFAA have been applied to over 210 events, with total payments of over $3.4 billion made to provinces and territories. Of those 210 events, 190 were flood-related, representing more than 85 per cent of all DFAA-funded recovery efforts.
  • Through NDMP investments, our Government will:
    • Help reduce flood-related risks and losses by supporting provinces and territories in identifying and mitigating high-risk flood areas;
    • Contribute to establishing conditions for the introduction of a residential flood insurance market in Canada;
    • Collect disaster risk information that will inform future investments; and
    • Facilitate greater knowledge-sharing across emergency management stakeholders.
  • This funding is in addition to the funding that is available for disaster mitigation projects through the $53 billion New Building Canada Plan. It provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:       
      • The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as disaster mitigation, roads, public transit, and other community infrastructure.
      • The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
          • The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
          • The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.
          • An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.

Quotes

"We are pleased to launch the National Disaster Mitigation Program today as we shift towards a proactive disaster relief model that better allows us to identify, plan for, and prevent flood risks and the costs that Canadians incur as a result of flooding. This important investment will help reduce flood-related costs for all levels of government and help Canadians in high-risk communities avoid the heartache associated with reoccurring flooding in their communities. Our Government will continue to support Canadians in their time of need and work with the provinces and territories to help proactively reduce the risk of flooding in high-risk communities across Canada.
- The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"We have all seen the toll that severe weather events take on Canadians. IBC is pleased to continue working with the federal government on flood prevention and mitigation measures. We know that the private sector, all levels of government and community groups – working together – can build more resilient and sustainable communities".
- Don Forgeron, President and CEO, Insurance Bureau of Canada

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SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

For further information: Jeremy Laurin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency, Preparedness, 613-991-2924; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657; Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) on Twitter

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