91原创 Advance Times is offering this weekly feature called 鈥淎t Your Service.鈥�

It鈥檚 another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.

Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.

Alternating between elected groups, 91原创 City and 91原创 Township councils, 91原创 School Board, 91原创 MLAs, and 91原创 MPs each have a chance to participate.

The answers provided will be published in their entirety online Sundays.

MOST RECENT 鈥� AT YOUR SERVICE: School district moves forward on reconciliation efforts with Indigenous partners

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QUESTION

91原创 MLAs were asked: Have current and past governments done enough to upgrade dike systems in North 91原创 and Glen Valley?

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ANSWERS

Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman

A. Most people don鈥檛 spend a lot of time thinking about our diking systems and what kind of shape they鈥檙e in, until the worst happens.

After the devastating flooding we saw in Sumas Prairie and in parts of the Interior last fall, the importance of our dikes and other flood protection measures became clearer than ever.

We cannot wait for a major disaster to tell us when these vital pieces of infrastructure might be inadequate and in need of repair or upgrade. Properly assessing our dikes must be an ongoing priority 鈥� and funding improvements to them must also be prioritized by all three levels of government.

Beyond maintaining and improving our diking system, we also need to ensure that residents and farmers are provided with clear, timely warnings so they have as much lead time as possible to protect their loved ones as well as their livelihoods.

I will never forget the anger of farmers in Sumas Prairie who lost 48 hours to move equipment, livestock and keepsakes, because they weren鈥檛 warned about the impending flood of the Nooksack River.

It鈥檚 my hope the province鈥檚 expansion of the Alert Ready System means this will never happen again.

Whether it鈥檚 protecting 91原创, Abbotsford, Merritt or other communities, we need to take the issue of flood protection much more seriously.

We have been warned that more frequent 鈥� and perhaps even stronger 鈥� weather events are very likely. Protecting people, their animals, and livelihoods requires a long-term vision, proper planning, and adequate investment from government.

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Abbotsford West MLA Michael de Jong

A. If the climate disasters of 2021 have shown us anything, it鈥檚 that we need to be prepared for more frequent and more intense weather events in the years to come.

This is why it is vitally important that we prioritize the assessment and monitoring of the state of the dikes in communities prone to flooding 鈥� whether they be in 91原创, in my home city of Abbotsford, or elsewhere in our province.

We also need to see all levels of government provide adequate levels of funding to maintain and improve our diking systems as needed.

Following last year鈥檚 devastating flooding that hit Abbotsford particularly hard, as well as areas in the Interior, we have heard promises from the provincial and federal governments that they will be there to help communities build flood resiliency 鈥� however, most of the funding so far has gone towards the cost of responding and recovering from these disasters.

We absolutely need to be helping people get back on their feet after the events of 2021.

But we also need to be thinking ahead.

If we acknowledge that more damaging disasters are likely on the horizon, we need to be ready 鈥揳nd this requires a longer-term plan and some serious dollars behind it to shore up existing infrastructure.

Now that the premier has hit the 鈥榩ause鈥� button on his billion-dollar museum project, I suggest he and his cabinet colleagues consider injecting some much-needed funds into improving dikes here in the Fraser Valley and beyond.

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91原创-East MLA Megan Dykeman

A. For too long, the impacts of climate change 鈥� including increased risk of flooding 鈥� were ignored 鈥� that鈥檚 why our government has been diligently working with First Nations, local authorities, and other government partners to better address flood risks and flood management.

In legislation passed in 2003 and 2004, the B.C. Liberal government transferred responsibility for floodplain designation and planning to local governments. We know that these responsibilities are expensive, and that鈥檚 why our government has been, and continues to, work diligently with municipalities on developing a collaborative approach.

We have been strengthening our flood mitigation strategy since forming government, and we will continue to work closely with local First Nations, as well as the Township and City of 91原创, on emergency preparedness 鈥� including dike management.

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91原创 MLA Andrew Mercier

A. The province has a dedicated flood strategy, with a key focus on working with First Nations, local governments, and other flood-related bodies.

In fact, our Phase 1 engagement process was completed in 2021, and the next step is engagement with industry and non-governmental organizations.

A key part of our strategy was a dike crest survey on all regulated dikes in British Columbia completed in February of 2022, including for the Township of 91原创.

This strategy has become even stronger since last November鈥檚 flooding events, where both the premier and Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth recognized that the impacts of climate change meant we needed more provincial involvement in flood mitigation and dike management.

While the province does not lead efforts to conduct certain flood mitigation works, there are funding programs in place that support local authorities with assessments, long-recovery, and mitigation projects, as well as disaster recovery funding through EMBC.

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UP NEXT

Next week, 91原创鈥檚 MPs are being asked: Will the federal government still meet its goals for planting two billion trees over the next eight years?

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Watch for the politicians鈥� answers online Sundays.

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