National

Minister won't commit to national flood insurance program in near future

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Apr, 2026 09:18 AM

Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski says she can't promise the government will launch the promised National Flood Insurance Program "in the near future."

The program was first promised by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in 2019 as an affordability measure to help households in flood-prone areas.

The government didn't start working on the program until 2023 and committed to implementing it by the end of 2025.

Olszewski told reporters on Tuesday it's still "top of mind" but it's a complicated program to set up.

Communities in several provinces were under flood warnings Tuesday and areas near Sudbury, Ont., and Gatineau, Que., declared states of emergency.

A 2022 report by Canada's Task Force on Flood Insurance and Relocation estimated the average annual cost of residential flooding in Canada at $2.97 billion.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau staunchly defends Zelenskyy as London summit on European security wraps up

Trudeau said it could lead to Canada joining a new military coalition aimed at upholding an eventual peace in Ukraine, but the outgoing prime minister added that others will have to make such a decision.

Trudeau staunchly defends Zelenskyy as London summit on European security wraps up

Nurses, midwives can help treat depression during pregnancy and new motherhood: study

Nurses, midwives and doulas can treat depression and anxiety symptoms experienced during pregnancy and after delivery, a new study says. The clinical trial, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, suggests training non-mental-health specialists in short-term behavioural therapy can make treatment available for people who don't have a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Nurses, midwives can help treat depression during pregnancy and new motherhood: study

Energy, trade investments 'imperative' in rocky times: Canada Infrastructure Bank CEO

The head of the Canada Infrastructure Bank says the power and export-enabling projects the Crown corporation backs are more crucial than ever as trade tumult intensifies with the United States.

Energy, trade investments 'imperative' in rocky times: Canada Infrastructure Bank CEO

Canada's bracing for Trump's tariffs. Here's how it's expected to respond

Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods imposed by the U.S. government are expected to take hold tomorrow, marking the start of a North American trade war. President Donald Trump signed the order to impose the devastating levies on his northern and southern neighbours on Feb. 1, saying the measures would help stop “illegal migration” and the smuggling of opioids into U.S. territory.

Canada's bracing for Trump's tariffs. Here's how it's expected to respond

Former PM Harper blasts Liberal leadership candidate Carney's economic record

Former prime minister Stephen Harper is taking shots at Liberal leadership frontrunner Mark Carney's economic record. Harper accuses Carney of taking unearned credit for steering the Canadian economy out of the global financial crisis more than 15 years ago.

Former PM Harper blasts Liberal leadership candidate Carney's economic record

Trudeau headed home from London after visiting King Charles, Europe security summit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed back to Ottawa after ending his London visit with an audience with King Charles. Trudeau was in London for a weekend security summit — making Canada the only non-European nation represented in talks on how to ensure a possible Ukraine ceasefire actually holds.