Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN) will be receiving much-needed provincial support for their Flood Resiliency Roadworks Program.
Every year, CLFN faces poor drainage systems, and the Government of Alberta has taken notice.
“CLFN is pleased the province has committed to supporting our community’s Flood Resiliency Roadworks Program. Overland flooding and poor drainage systems on our reserve continues to present a challenging situation for our community each year,” said Charles Muskego, communications for the CLFN band council. “The goal of our Flood Resiliency Roadworks Program is to reduce these vulnerabilities by targeting key areas that are the most impacted by overload flooding and where poor drainage systems currently exist. Alberta’s financial commitment illustrates their dedication to maintaining a meaningful and productive government-to-government relationship with our nation.”
Last week, the province announced they would be dedicating nearly $30-million towards the investment in flood mitigation through the Alberta Community Resilience Program.
This includes projects in Calgary, Taber, TransAlta’s Ghost Reservoir, and CLFN.
The local funding will be used for drainage improvements and riverbank stabilization on the reserve to ensure emergency access and potable water delivery during a flood event.
“We know that floods are devastating to our communities and our economy,” said Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips in a release. “That’s why our government is committed to investing in flood resilience to better protect Albertans where they live and work. These investments will help ensure Alberta is better prepared than ever.”
A further $10-million will be used for emergency preparedness. This allotment of funding will add equipment such as sandbags, tiger dam kits, sandbag fillers, and pumps to the provincial stockpile.
The province will also be reimbursing municipalities for additional mitigation and preparation costs in order to help communities be better prepared, and establish a reserve for future emergencies.
“It’s crucial that we support our communities across the province to be ready to deal with emergencies. They’re on the front lines and are the first to respond to keep people and property safe. This new funding will go a long way to help them be even more prepared for future emergencies,” noted Minister of Municipal Affairs Shaye Anderson in a release.
