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

Other countries seeking out advice from Canada ahead of Trump return: Joly

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Donald Trump's return to the White House has boosted Canada's influence in the world as other international partners turn to Canada for advice on how to deal with him. Joly made the comments in Peru, where she was attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Other countries seeking out advice from Canada ahead of Trump return: Joly

Canada Post workers go on strike Friday morning, disrupting deliveries

Canada Post workers hit the picket lines Friday after contract negotiations with their employer failed to conclude by the strike deadline — and Ottawa is signalling it's not ready to intervene. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said approximately 55,000 workers are striking, claiming little progress has been made in the bargaining process.

Canada Post workers go on strike Friday morning, disrupting deliveries

Whistler, Pemberton, Sea-to-Sky Highway in B.C.to get 'significant snowfall'

Whistler is expected to get its first "significant snowfall" of the season this weekend. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the winter resort as well as for Pemberton and the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler.

Whistler, Pemberton, Sea-to-Sky Highway in B.C.to get 'significant snowfall'

Vancouver police say one person taken into custody, later released, in hate case

One person was taken into custody over what Vancouver Police say is part of a hate-crime investigation. A statement from the department says officers from its Major Crime Section and Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant on a home in the 1800 block of East 1st Avenue on Thursday.

Vancouver police say one person taken into custody, later released, in hate case

Man arrested for theft of logging truck

Mounties in Quesnel say they have arrested a man who was caught with a stolen logging truck, who then tried to escape on a stolen motorcycle. Police say the truck, worth 65-thousand dollars, was taken early yesterday morning.

Man arrested for theft of logging truck

B.C.'s chief vet tells clinics to set up bird flu protocols amid human exposure risk

Dr. Theresa Burns says in a letter to vets last week that reporting of sick and dead wild birds across the province has increased recently and clinics handling wild birds must have safety procedures in place and ensure staff are trained and equipped with proper protection.