Fund Abbotsford flood preparedness
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to invest in flood monitoring, early‑warning systems and emergency preparedness for Abbotsford by funding climate‑resilient flood management plans informed by current science and community consultation. The government responds… it notes funding for mitigation, mapping and alerts and will continue collaborating with provinces and communities to strengthen flood resilience.
Why we would sign this petition
- Would improve early detection and response in Abbotsford, reducing risks to homes, infrastructure and supply chains by enabling faster warnings and preparedness.
- Funding climate‑resilient plans and mapping helps prioritize upgrades to aging dikes, drainage and nature‑based solutions to reduce future damages.
- Science‑based planning and inclusive community consultation make interventions better targeted, more acceptable locally, and more likely to be implemented effectively.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Federal funding may be costly and compete with other national priorities; the petition does not specify funding sources or trade‑offs.
- Flood management is a shared responsibility with provinces and municipalities; federal action could duplicate or overlap existing local responsibilities and programs.
- The petition lacks specific deliverables, timelines or measurable commitments, so it is unclear how and when promised improvements would occur.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS The City of Abbotsford is highly vulnerable to flooding due to its low-lying geography adjacent to the Fraser River and multiple tributaries; Recent severe flood events have caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, agricultural lands, and critical infrastructure in Abbotsford; Flooding disrupts critical supply chains and trade routes, impacting not only local but also regional and national economies; The existing flood protection infrastructure, including dikes, levees, and drainage systems, is aging and inadequate to withstand current and future flood risks; Effective flood mitigation requires substantial investment in modern, climate-resilient infrastructure, advanced monitoring systems, and nature-based solutions. THEREFORE We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to invest in flood monitoring, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness tailored to Abbotsford's needs by supporting climate-resilient flood management plans based on the latest science and inclusive community consultation.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada Signed by Jennifer McKelvie, M.P. The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for sharing their concerns regarding flood monitoring, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Flood events in 2021 affected communities across the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada has invested over $545.2 million in the province through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, including $7.2 million for the Fraser River Bank Erosion Protection Enhancement Project in Abbotsford to address erosion on the Fraser River bank, including the Matsqui Dyke. The Fund supports infrastructure projects intended to mitigate current and future climate-related risks and disasters caused by natural hazards, including floods, wildland fires, droughts, and seismic events. All funds under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund have been allocated. The Government of Canada also provided over $1.4 billion through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements to support the Province of British Columbia with the costs of response, recovery, and rebuilding after the November 2021 floods. Through the AgriRecovery Framework, up to $228 million in federal-provincial government support was also made available to help British Columbia farmers with the costs associated with recovery from flood damage. These funds are accessible to local communities to support the restoration of infrastructure and farmland. Flood mitigation is a shared responsibility among all levels of government, as well as the not-for-profit and private sectors. The Government will continue to work with the Province of British Columbia to build and strengthen community resilience to climate-related events, while also supporting resilience initiatives across Canada. Response by the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Signed by The Honourable Julie Dabrusin With climate change, extreme weather events are more frequent and intense. Canadians from coast to coast to coast are impacted and rely on reliable, timely and accurate weather and water quantity information to take appropriate actions to protect themselves and their properties. The Government of Canada recognizes the significant impacts that these extreme events, including flooding, have on communities. Flooding puts critical infrastructure at risk and impacts local and regional economies. That is why it is critical to adapt to current impacts of climate change and to mitigate these risks. Flood monitoring Environment and Climate Change Canada generate timely, accurate and reliable information about weather and climate-related risks and emergencies in support of emergency preparedness, management and response. Flood management is a shared responsibility across all levels of government: federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal. Provinces and territories have primary legislative responsibilities for managing the water resources within their borders, including land use and flood infrastructure. As such, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s information supports provincial and territorial authorities in forecasting flood conditions and issuing flash flooding and other flood-related risks, alerts and warnings to the public. Early warning systems and Emergency Preparedness The Government of Canada, through the mandate of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service of Canada, is responsible for alerting Canadians about extreme weather events, including precipitation events. These alerts and warnings play a significant role in informing provincial, territorial, and regional/local flood response efforts, and in supporting Public Safety Canada as the federal lead on emergency management. Additionally, in November 2025, Bill C-241 was introduced in the House of Commons. This proposed piece of legislation would help federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as Indigenous peoples across the country plan for adverse weather events caused by the changing climate. The Bill would require the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature to table a report after two years outlining the government’s plan to coordinate and improve flood and drought forecasting. Government of Canada investments in Flood Mapping The Government of Canada, through two rounds of investment, has invested in the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program led by Natural Resources Canada, with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Public Safety Canada. This program aims to help Canadians better plan and prepare for future floods and is one of many measures meant to increase the resiliency of Canadians in the face of the rising frequency and costs of flood events and other climate-related disasters. In partnership with provincial and territorial governments, the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program aims to complete flood hazard maps of higher-risk areas in Canada and make this flood hazard information accessible. These maps will help emergency planning by guiding the placement of evacuation routes, and support land use planning by helping to identify the ideal locations for critical infrastructure and flood mitigation structures like dikes. In coordination with the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, through the Freshwater Availability project within the National Adaptation Strategy, Environment and Climate Change Canada will also be developing future predictions of streamflow based on various future climate scenarios. This will provide a range of possible outcomes for all of Canada, including watersheds shared with the United States of America. This work will provide valuable information to support climate-resilient flood management plans, encompassing regions such as the Sumas Prairie and city of Abbotsford. Other related Government of Canada investments from Budget 2025 The Government of Canada’s Budget 2025 committed $2.7 billion over nine years to modernize Environment and Climate Change High-Performance Computing capacity. This investment is critical, as these advanced systems run the complex models needed for accurate weather forecasts, alerts, warnings, and climate projections. As a result, this enhanced capability directly supports emergency responders, as well as benefits all Canadians to help them make informed decisions to protect against adverse impacts of extreme weather such as heat, flooding or wildfires. Budget 2025 also earmarked $55.4 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, and $13.4 million ongoing, for Public Safety Canada to support a new National Public Alerting System model. The National Public Alerting System is a federal, provincial, and territorial system that disseminates immediate warnings of hazards to life to Canadians. Alerts are currently produced for extreme thunderstorms, tornadoes, and earthquakes at the federal level, as agreed upon with provincial and territorial partners. Environment and Climate Change Canada recognize the importance of the National Public Alerting System for the protection of Canadians against life-threatening hazards and is responsible for the majority of National Public Alerting System alerts, issuing up to nearly 85% of alerts nationwide for extreme thunderstorms and tornadoes.