Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the ongoing work to ensure community governments have access to resources that can better help them to build resilience against flooding. Last week, the Government of the Northwest Territories launched the Planning in Flood Hazard Areas Guide and released new flood hazard and inundation maps for five communities in the territory.

Flood maps have been completed for Aklavik, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche
First Nation, and Nahanni Butte. Flood maps for Fort Good Hope, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Jean Marie River and Tulita will be completed by 2028.  The maps were developed with funding from the Government of Canada’s Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.

Mr. Speaker, one of the best ways to prepare for flooding is through community planning.  Community governments should proactively plan for flooding, flood mitigation, and flood proofing.  While many communities in the Northwest Territories prepare for the possibility of flooding every year, climate change has altered the frequency and severity of flooding.  That is why we created the Planning Guide to assist community governments with incorporating flood hazard maps into community planning and development decisions.

I encourage community governments to incorporate the new flood hazard maps into their planning and development decisions.  This will ensure that communities are better prepared and more resilient to flooding.  It will also make community governments better aligned with the Government of Canada’s disaster financial assistance requirements.

Flood inundation maps support emergency preparedness and the GNWT’s commitment to ensuring safe communities for Northerners.  These maps show the largest historical flood a community has experienced since water levels were recorded, and they are useful when community governments update their Community Emergency Plans or participate in tabletop exercises to practice their emergency response.

The Planning in Flood Hazard Areas Guide and the advancement of flood mapping in the territory are supported through an interdepartmental effort.  I would like to recognize the staff of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Department of Finance’s Northwest Territories’ Centre for Geomatics, and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for their work in bringing this project to fruition.  Collaborating and engaging with community governments and Indigenous governments has also been critical during the flood map development process.  The success of this initiative demonstrates that, by working together, we can build a stronger, more prepared, and more resilient territory.

Mr. Speaker, we know the Northwest Territories will continue to experience climate-related emergencies, and the best way to be prepared is to have strong community plans, land use plans, zoning bylaws and community emergency plans. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to supporting community governments in developing sustainable community plans that meet the needs of residents while addressing the challenges of climate change.  The new flood mapping and the Planning in Flood Hazard Areas Guide are significant tools for community governments to ensure their communities and residents are ready for emergencies such as flooding.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.