Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, the floods of 2021 were extraordinary, and they caused life-altering hardship for so many residents, families, and communities. I am very pleased to advise that the majority of those who were impacted are now back in their homes.

I would like to acknowledge the commitment and efforts of local leadership in the flood-affected communities. It has been nearly a year since the flooding took place, and during that time leaders have been carrying out the day-to-day business of running a community government while also being shouldered with the aftermath of the flood.

This government thanks you for your efforts and your resilience. As the ice broke on the Mackenzie River and Little Buffalo River last spring, residents in several small communities witnessed the devastation as the water and ice continued to rise and destroy or damage homes, businesses, and community infrastructure throughout the South Slave and Dehcho regions. As communities in the South Slave and Dehcho were flooding, communities to the North were able to learn in real time from their neighbours and implement response measures that helped to reduce the damage caused by these floods.

In total the GNWT has addressed approximately 140 structures owned by private residents, small businesses, non-government organizations and community governments either damaged or destroyed. We have processed Disaster Assistance Claims from impacted residents and organizations, which has helped repair and replace some of what has been lost. 

The challenges caused by these floods are beyond what the NWT has experienced in the past and our government met these challenges with extraordinary and unprecedented recovery measures.

We took a centralized approach to support the recovery efforts, which allowed the GNWT to cover the repair or replacement costs of homes. To manage these massive repair and rebuilding efforts, the GNWT coordinated contractors to complete 28 repairs and 18 home replacements in Jean Marie River, Fort Simpson, Little Buffalo River, and Fort Good Hope. The total response cost to the GNWT was approximately $39 million.

Work is underway to change how the GNWT undertakes disaster recovery work and how we provide disaster assistance in the future. We are also conducting an after-action assessment of the 2021 flood response. 

Mr. Speaker, we have learned many valuable lessons over the last year, and these lessons are helping us prepare as we must turn our attention to this year’s flood season. With spring break-up coming soon, so too is the risk of more flooding in many NWT communities. No matter the water level, ice jams can cause flooding at any time.

All of us, from individuals, to families, to businesses, to government, need to be ready for the possibility of flooding every single year. Throughout the winter, all emergency management partners have been doing their part to prepare for the spring.

Since last summer, community governments have worked hard to prepare for the upcoming flood season. Our government has been supporting this work, and communities are ready and equipped to handle the next emergency no matter when it may come.

Our emergency management staff are working closely with local governments to ensure their emergency plans are up to date. They have offered training to local governments on emergency management and are prepared to jump in and assist should local governments need it.

Mr. Speaker, being ready for emergencies is not just about governments. It is every resident’s responsibility to be prepared before an emergency strikes. Our role as government is to ensure that residents understand the risk, are informed about what is happening, and are equipped with the tools they need to stay safe and help if they can in the event of an emergency.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is rolling out a social marketing campaign called Be Ready, NWT. It appeals to the community values and responsibility we have to each other. It provides us with the information and the tools we need to be ready for any disaster.  

We are making significant investments to make sure these messages reach all residents, using a variety of platforms: radio, social media, newsprint.

Let us all work together to help our constituents be ready as we prepare for the upcoming flood and wildfire seasons this spring and summer.    

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.