NDP MLA Russell says Princeton will benefit from additional flood recovery funding

PRINCETON – New Democrat MLA Roly Russell says Princeton will benefit from $11.9 million in new provincial funding to support recovery work and get people back into their community. Princeton is one of ten communities in B.C. that was severely impacted by the November 2021 floods.

“People have faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of the November floods, and I’m proud of the way our communities have pulled together,” said Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen. “This funding will help Princeton and other towns implement the solutions that they have identified as important. It will help them all make more progress through their recovery, and build resilience against future disasters.”

 

The local governments of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Fraser Valley Regional District, Hope, Kent, Merritt, Mission, Princeton, and Thompson-Nicola Regional District are all receiving direct grants from the $53.6 million in provincial funding to assist them in meeting the additional pressures of on-going recovery and infrastructure planning.

The grant will enable the local government in Princeton to:

  • Make improvements to the drinking water system
  • Restore infrastructure in a way that provides resilience to future climate events.
  • Offset increased staffing needs related to the flood events
  • Implement temporary housing options for displaced residents

This funding is in addition to the more than $2.1 billion Budget 2022 provides to help people recover from the floods and wildfires of last year and to better protect communities against future climate disasters. As well as the $228 million in federal-provincial funding provided to B.C. farmers who suffered extraordinary damages during the November floods.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/26628

For more information on Canadian Red Cross services and how to access them, call 1 800 863-6582, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Pacific time), or visit: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/2021-british-columbia-floods-and-extreme-weather

British Columbians can access the Disaster Financial Assistance application online: http://www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance