Whereas the side channels, tributaries and sloughs of the Fraser and other large rivers have deep value to First Nations as historic transportation corridors, sites of food cultivation and harvest, refuge and gathering places; many of these same waterways are or were valuable recreational fishing, boating and swimming sites but are no longer safe and accessible for these activities; And whereas these waterways provide moderating effects for localized and riverine flooding and valuable habitat for wild salmon and other important species; And whereas there is no current requirement or standard practice for treating these natural and manmade waterways as valuable natural assets for their provision of the aforementioned ecosystem services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the federal and provincial governments remove constraints and implement requirements for incorporating green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in flood management to ensure effective flood risk mitigation while maintaining or restoring social, cultural and ecological co-benefits for these systems; And be it further resolved that UBCM request that the federal and provincial governments promote natural assets as a viable emergency planning solution and provide appropriate funding through the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund, Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, Emergency Management BC and other similar emergency planning and mitigation funds.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Government is committed to funding capital projects that reduce flood risks to communities across the province while enhancing natural asset services. The Provincial and federal governments have partnered on flood and disaster mitigation funding programs including two recent sub-streams under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program ICIP: COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream CVRIS and the Adaptation, Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Program. Although not inclusive of flood mitigation, the Canada Infrastructure Program COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream program had a disaster mitigation and adaptation infrastructure outcome that specified use of natural infrastructure as eligible to mitigate or protect against the impacts of climate change, disasters triggered by natural hazards, and extreme weather events. Geographic distribution and community size are considered in the technical evaluation of proposals under these funding programs. In addition, the Province continues to implement regionally significant initiatives that support community-led projects, such as climate change impacts on flooding.
Minister of Natural Resources The Government of Canada understands the importance of natural assets and value they provide to Canadians, including flood risk mitigation. Through my supplementary mandate letter of January 15, 2021, the Prime Minister tasked me with working with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to operationalize nature-based solutions to fight climate change. These actions will help Canada become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, meet our 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Natural Resources Canadas Climate Change Adaptation Program supports the development of adaptation knowledge and capacity across the country. The program has provided more than 3 million in funding to projects to improve knowledge and the capacity to apply nature-based infrastructure solutions to manage risks, including flooding and shoreline erosion. As well, research and science at Natural Resources Canadas Geological Survey of Canada is working with coastal communities in British Columbia to assess the effectiveness of nature-based infrastructure for coastal resilience to flooding and erosion caused by high tides, storm surges, high waves, and tsunamis. In the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada announced up to 3.16 billion over 10 years, starting in 202122, to deliver on the commitment to plant two billion trees. This effort is part of an overarching 3.9 billion approach to nature-based climate solutions to restore degraded ecosystems, protect wildlife, and improve land and resource management practices, and to increase carbon sequestration and realize other environmental benefits through the adoption of beneficial management practices. Natural Resources Canada is currently working with all orders of government, Indigenous Peoples, industry, municipalities and stakeholders to deliver on this commitment.