Bill C-317, also known as the National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting Act, aims to create a national plan for predicting floods and droughts. The bill recognizes that floods and droughts are becoming more common and causing more damage in Canada due to climate change. It also points out that current forecasting efforts are not coordinated across provinces and need more support from the federal government.
The bill requires the Minister of the Environment to work with other ministers, including those responsible for agriculture, infrastructure, natural resources, and public safety, to develop this national strategy. The strategy will focus on giving important groups the information they need to predict floods and droughts. These groups include provincial and municipal governments, Indigenous communities, universities, and industries like insurance companies.
As part of creating the strategy, the Minister must talk to representatives from provincial and municipal governments, Indigenous governing bodies, and other relevant groups. The strategy will look at whether there is a need for national coordination, new investments, and the use of new technologies in forecasting. It will also assess the need for models that can identify properties and infrastructure at risk from floods.
Within two years of the bill coming into effect, the Minister must create a report outlining the strategy and present it to Parliament. The report must also be published on a government website. Five years after the strategy is presented, the Minister must prepare another report on how well the strategy is working, including conclusions and recommendations, after talking to the relevant parties. This second report must also be presented to Parliament and published online.
Climate
The bill acknowledges that climate change contributes to more frequent and intense floods and droughts. By establishing a national strategy for flood and drought forecasting, the bill indirectly addresses climate change adaptation by aiming to improve the country's preparedness for extreme weather events.
Environmental Protection
The bill promotes environmental protection by focusing on water resource management through flood and drought forecasting. A national strategy could contribute to protecting communities and infrastructure from damage caused by extreme weather events.