On Nov. 26, I was sworn in as B.C.’s new minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development. I was also honoured to return to my role as minister responsible for the Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power Corporation and last, but definitely not least, the Columbia River Treaty.

Local governments and First Nations in B.C. stand to benefit from the renewal of a flood mitigation funding program.

The Province is accepting applications from local governments, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations for nearly $136 million in infrastructure grants to help communities develop resilience in response to COVID-19.

Local, regional, and Indigenous governments in communities throughout the province have been approved to receive their share of up to $3.4 million in provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Funds (CEPF), while an additional $14.5 million from the CEPF is being allocated to new project intakes over the next several months.

Twenty-four local governments and First Nations communities have been approved to receive $3.46 million in provincial emergency preparedness funding.

The Province is urging caution and encouraging the public to prepare for localized flooding as water levels are expected to rise in several regions of the province due to heavy rainfall.

More than 100 local governments and First Nations communities have been approved to receive their share of $4.2 million in provincial emergency preparedness funding.

When COVID-19 arrived in British Columbia, Cheryl Macarthy and Dave Jorgenson, owners of the Frog on the Bog gift shop and several guest accommodation properties in the historic town of Wells, felt the impact to their tourism businesses immediately.

When flood waters rise, the Government of B.C. is ready to assist local governments by helping prepare communities and responding to flooding where necessary.