05/08/2026
It was a pleasure to speak with Le Café Show this morning about the new federal flood mapping tool. I have no concerns about Alberta not joining the map as Alberta’s current maps are better than what will be released. This is nonetheless an important conversation to have. The federal government is investing in this tool because many across the country do not have the information to avoid buying or building in a flood prone area. Despite the fact we do have a similar tool in Alberta most do not know that it exists. As flood risks increase under the combined impacts of a changing climate and increased densification of urban areas a greater number of Canadian homes are at risk of flooding. As a country we need to act to improve flood resiliency and discourage further investment in flood prone areas. This is a real threat to our national economy. As more insurers refuse to insure at risk neighborhoods, insurance costs with the few remaining providers will rise. If we continue to fail to act eventually insurance will be completely unavailable resulting in a loss of financing for these homes. The US has a state backed insurance program for individuals in a similar situation. The federal government has considered a similar program in Canada however, to date they have been unwilling to initiate it. There have been two main points preventing such a program. First, the lack of good quality flood risk mapping data which is being solved by the newly released tool. The second concern is the fact that the program would likely have to operate at a significant loss and the main beneficiaries are likely to be wealthier individuals with expensive homes along water fronts as they have the most valuable assets at risk. The federal government would prefer to educate these individuals to reduce their own exposure rather than fund poor investments with taxpayer dollars. There is much work to be done going forward and some kind of program to support low income individuals with homes at risk of flooding is likely going to be required in the future. I suspect such a program would cover all home owners with a modest upper ceiling that wealthier waterfront property owners consider negligible but only time will tell what solutions are coming.
If you have concerns about your own flood risks for residential, commercial or public buildings please reach out to discuss flood resiliency options. As a country we cannot afford to wait for others to solve these issues. The time to act is now.
It was a pleasure to speak with Le Café Show this morning about the new federal flood mapping tool. I have no concerns about Alberta not joining the map as Alberta’s current maps are better than what will be released. This is nonetheless an important converstion to have. The federal government is...
