New investments are critical to addressing increased levels of risk in communities across Canada
Today, the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, together with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), announced a combined $104 million investment in the Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.
Following the announcement, Craig Stewart, Vice-President, Climate Change and Federal Issues, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), issued the following statement:
“IBC commends the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, and CIFFC, on today’s funding announcement and for their enhanced cooperation. This investment to help build resilient and FireSmart communities is welcome news for Canadians.
“As severe weather events in Canada continue to increase in frequency and severity, new investments like the combined $104 million investment announced today are critical to protect Canadians and their communities. Canada must continue to invest in wildfire preparedness to respond to more frequent and intense wildfires, increased property loss, and more families displaced from their homes.
“The toll these wildfires are taking on Canadians cannot be overlooked. Behind the insured loss numbers are families coping and trying to deal with immense heartache and devastation. Between 2003 and 2014, Canada experienced an average of $84 million annually in insured wildfire losses. Since 2014, that number has soared to a staggering $706 million.
“As a country, all orders of government must prioritize measures to protect Canadians and their communities that include:
Updating building codes and ensuring all new construction be designed with resilience in mind (i.e., mandate resilient roofing and siding materials).
Not building homes in high-risk wildfire zones.
Incentivizing homeowners and businesses to make homes and businesses more resilient (i.e., introduce rebates and retrofit programs).
Prioritizing nature-based solutions for fire prevention, such as controlled burns, fire-smart forestry, and agricultural practices like green firebreaks and targeted grazing.
“With significantly heightened wildfire risk, Canadians need governments and the private sector to collaborate on solutions to protect them from severe weather disasters.”
