Prime Minister says feds prepared to discuss a national flood mitigation strategy

Touring flooded areas in the Quebec region of Montérégie, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the federal government is prepared to discuss a mitigation strategy that would apply to all provinces and territories to help enhance infrastructure to better withstand future floods.
The discussions might include insurance programs for flood damage, which are currently not insured in homeowner’s policies.
Harper also offered to split 50-50 with the province of Quebec the costs of permanent flood mitigation measures, taken specifically for this year’s flooding in Quebec, that are not otherwise eligible under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.
“Disaster mitigation measures are those that eliminate or reduce the impacts and risks of hazards through proactive measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs,” the Prime Minister’s Office noted in a backgrounder to Harper’s announcement. “Disaster mitigation measures may be structural (e.g. flood dikes) or non-structural (e.g. land use zoning).”
The backgrounder notes examples of mitigation measures include:
•hazard mapping;
•adoption and enforcement of land use and zoning practices;
•implementing and enforcing building codes;
•flood plain mapping;
•reinforced tornado safe rooms;
•burying of electrical cables to prevent ice build-up;
•raising of homes in flood-prone areas;
•disaster mitigation public awareness programs; and
•insurance programs.