On June 3, 2024, Ross Siemens, Michael Goetz, and Spencer Coyne — the mayors of Abbotsford, Merritt, and Princeton, respectively — attended a press conference in Abbotsford, B.C., regarding the federal government’s decision of denying the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The mayors petitioned for the DMAF to be given to cities to assist in rebuilding dikes and other critical infrastructure that were damaged during the disastrous Sumas Prairie region floods of November 2021.
The previous federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, made the recommendation to look for commercial financing for flood infrastructure projects, which Goetz rejected as an unsuitable and impractical option. Princeton’s proposal requested around $55 million in financing to improve 1.6 kilometers of diking and move its primary sewer lift station. Merritt requested around $64 million, mostly for land acquisition and upgrades to the diking system. With the largest proposal, Abbotsford sought almost $1.6 billion to improve flood storage and install a conveyance pump system at the Barrowtown pump station.
All parties stressed that they had worked hard to obtain the financing, but had been met with a disappointing “one-line letter” denial from the government claiming inadequate information, even though they submitted comprehensive applications that surpassed 500 pages. “Not sure what the 500 pages did not cover for you,” Goetz said, emphasizing how confusing the federal government’s response was.
The three mayors shed light on how the provincial government had urged them to apply for the DMAF funds and had given them assurances that having provincial support would improve their prospects. Siemens voiced disappointment at the federal government’s decision, stating that “the 2021 flood caused significant damage to our regional and provincial transportation infrastructure, property and businesses, and severely impacted agricultural production in the most productive area of Canada.”
“For the first time in our history, we witnessed a 9-day closure of the key transportation corridor (the Trans-Canada Highway) through the Fraser Valley, which links Canada’s largest port with the interior and Alberta, and yet through this competitive granting program, we did not make it on the list of federal priorities,” explained Siemens.
Goetz stated that the floods caused him to lose his house for a full year. Coyne added that Princeton was still dependent on makeshift dikes and that the locals had tried everything to get the money they needed, and they felt let down by the government. Former Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun expressed his dissatisfaction as well, bringing up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s visit to the community during the aftermath of the floods, and his assurance of aid from the government, but they failed to do so. Braun felt “flabbergasted” due to the breach of the government’s commitments, criticizing the absence of a thorough justification for rejecting their application.
The University of the Fraser Valley‘s Ghosting of Sumas Lake play took place from 2022-23, and was directed by Dr. Michelle La Flamme. The play shed light on the larger impacts the flood’s devastation had on the local public and traced the lake’s original history; this included the draining of the lake in the early 20th century, which displaced the 10,000 Sumas First Nation members who lived on the lands and waters. The play captured the emotional and social cost of the floods and highlighted how damaging the effects of climate change and community loss can be.
“A much larger community has been impacted by the floods,” La Flamme stated. “The whole experience was traumatic — the point of view of vicarious trauma as well.” La Flamme added that “Witnessing the footage on television, of places that I am familiar with and that I go to regularly and thinking about the devastation for the farmers whose children are in my classrooms.”
The mayors, together with leaders in business and industry, have demanded reform in the way the federal government pays for disaster recovery and prevention to the cities experiencing the adversities. They believe that smaller towns and municipalities — which might not have the means to submit elaborate and expensive applications — are unfairly burdened by the existing disaster relief system.
As per the federal government, $1.4 billion has already been allocated for cost-sharing to aid with the recovery from the 2021 floods. However, according to the mayors, they argue that no funds have been allocated to Merritt, Princeton, or the particular projects in Abbotsford that are associated with the 2021 B.C. floods.
Hello, I’m Gauri Sethi, a passionate staff writer at the Cascade responsible for writing content that resonates with the masses. Currently, I am pursuing business administration, but deep down, I am a person who loves expressing herself through writing.
