FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2023
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady spoke in favour of Bill 56, Fewer Floods, Safer Ontario Act, 2022 in the Ontario Legislature during Second Reading debate.
The bill is about flooding education, awareness and prevention. With flooding being the number one cause of public emergency in Ontario, the bill would have resulted in increased flooding information on the government’s web site, flooding information being distributed at the local level and talked about mitigation measures for homeowners.
“In my riding, large storms along the shore of Lake Erie often wreak havoc with constituents, with high water levels and wind that cause damage to homes and cottages,” Brady said. “This can be extremely costly.”
She believes the bill might help educate people to better prepare themselves for flooding.
“You can never have too much education,” Brady said. “So I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Bill 56 is a simple step that will go a long way to benefit residents, municipalities and many of our financial institutions.”
Unfortunately, the bill was defeated.
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For more information, contact MPP Bobbi Ann at 519-428-0446 or [email protected]
Ontario Legislative Assembly
Official Hansard
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I find the ballot date of Bill 56 to be very timely. The debate also nicely coincides with the idea that the fourth week of March be Flooding Awareness Week.
Springtime, when the weather warms, we are preoccupied with getting our yards and our flowerbeds in shape, but many of us fail to turn our attention to preparing our properties for the spring thaw. I would point out that if we’re waiting until May to do that, it might be a bit late. Raising awareness for proper preparedness can prevent potential water damage, basement flooding and often the property’s electrical systems.
I know the member from Beaches–East York has done a tremendous amount of work on this bill, and I believe she has spoken to each and every member of this Legislature. We’ve heard that she also has a great deal of support—support that’s here tonight—from some professionals and people in the insurance business. They obviously feel that more can be done, that we can do more.
In my riding, large storms along the shore of Lake Erie often wreak havoc with constituents, with high water levels and wind that cause damage to homes and cottages. This can be extremely costly.
In 2019, the government, through the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, doled out $4.5 million to help with recovery in Haldimand county. That doesn’t include individual insurance claims. I’m wondering if something like Bill 56 would help lower such payouts.
Speaker, you can never have too much information. You can never have too much education. So I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Bill 56 is a simple step that will go a long way to benefit residents, municipalities and many of our financial institutions. I’m very happy to stand tonight and support the member from Beaches–East York and Bill 56.