A national program to reduce flood damages was announced by the federal Minister of the Environment in April, 1975. Considerations that went into the program and its evolution are presented. Past governmental contributions to flood relief and flood control structures have not curbed floodplain investment processes nor the concomitant increase in damage potential. The new program is intended to coordinate federal and provincial strategies by clearly defining flood-risk areas, by discouraging continuing investment in those areas, and by following up with appropriate measures to limit damage to existing development. General agreements are being negotiated with most provinces which will confirm the underlying principles and facilitate flood-risk mapping as the first step in a $20 million cost-shared program. Other sub-agreements may be developed subsequently to deal with forecasting, flood-proofing and property acquisition or easements. Six pilot projects on flood-risk mapping are in various stages of completion across the country.
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