VICTORIA –  New Democrat MLAs Mitzi Dean and Grace Lore say people in Greater Victoria will be better protected during flooding and extreme weather emergencies, thanks to provincial climate adaptation funding for local projects.

“People in Colwood will be safer and better taken care of in the case of an emergency with this funding for further disaster-risk planning and reduction measures,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. “This will make everyone in our community better off in an emergency.”

In Greater Victoria, the following projects are receiving funding:

• Colwood – Disaster-risk planning and reduction, $300,000
• Songhees Nation – Lekwungen Nation’s Rock Bay Planning Project, $149,992

Across B.C. more than 50 local governments and First Nations are receiving a share of $39 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). Projects include small-scale structural flood projects and improvements to local flood-mitigation strategies, including more accurate flood mapping.

“Knowing the risks of future sea levels rising, the Songhees Nation’s work to plan for and adapt to the changing climate will help make the community stronger and more resilient,” said Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill. “I’m glad that we are able to partner with the Nation for this work that will benefit people across the region.”

While taking immediate steps to support communities and to keep people safe, the New Democrat government is also launching a new comprehensive B.C. Flood Strategy that will guide flood preparedness and mitigation work by all orders of government from now to 2035. The strategy will support communities to better prepare for flood impacts and strengthen their ability to respond to flood crises.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/30523