Fort St. John to receive millions of dollars in provincial funding for climate emergencies

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local First Nation and the City of Fort St. John will both be receiving a combined over $4.4 million toward reducing the risk of climate emergencies.

The city will receive $4.2 million toward a remediation project of the Bouffioux Coulee area, to reduce watershed flood risk and outfall pipeline protection for local and neighbouring communities; and rainfall distribution analysis and bylaw amendment for better stormwater planning.

Meanwhile, Saulteau First Nations in Moberly Lake will be getting $245,987 toward a water-related hazard management plan designed to improve resilience through increased and more accessible planning and mapping resources, which in turn will assist the Nation in “working with external partners toward regional resiliency.”

In a press release on May 9th, the provincial government’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness said it is working with communities and First Nations to support “projects that address natural and climate-driven hazards, such as floods, drought, extreme temperatures, earthquakes and landslides.” 

Kelly Greene, provincial minister of emergency management and climate readiness, said with the number of climate-caused events increasing, support of these projects to reduce the risks is “essential.”

“By supporting communities on these projects, we are helping to better protect these communities and the people who call them home,” said Greene.

Acting mayor of Fort St. John, Jim Lequiere, said the funds will help the city to “take critical steps” to reduce the chances of a flood and protect the community.

Lequiere said: “Upgrades to the Bouffioux Coulee berm, a new sewer outfall pipeline and River Drive embankment improvements will reduce flood risks, safeguard critical infrastructure and strengthen our readiness for extreme-weather events.”

The release reads more than $40 million in funds will be split between the province’s new Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program and the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).

In total, B.C. signed off on funding for 61 projects across the province.