QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Emergency Management and Community Resilience
Flood Prevention
October 7, 2026
Hello, minister. The Sumas Prairie in my province of British Columbia has been at the centre of devastating floods for decades, the most recent being in 2025. The core issue, as I understand it and as you know, is south of the Sumas border in the Nooksack River in Washington state, which presents a serious transboundary flood risk to communities in the Fraser Valley. Although British Columbia and Washington have increased cooperation since 2021 through the Nooksack and Sumas Watershed Transboundary Flood Initiative, international relations are fundamentally a federal responsibility.
My question, minister, is: What concrete action have you taken with your counterpart in the United States to reduce this cross-border threat to Canadians, which we know will happen in the next flood?
Senator, thank you very much for the question. I can tell you that both my parliamentary secretary and I have travelled to the Fraser Valley region. We actually joined the Sumas Prairie Watershed Table and had discussions with leadership. At this point in time, it has been under British Columbia’s leadership, including First Nations leadership. We understand the situation with respect to the Nooksack River and our neighbours to the south. As we continue to work through the issues as partners at that table, we will certainly endeavour to address the flooding issues that arise because of what happens south of the border. We are committed to that.
I should add that the federal government has also committed the sum of $20 million at this point in time to help the people designing the mitigation for that area to do some early studies and engineering work. We are committed to working with the Sumas Prairie Watershed Table in that regard. I appreciate that this is a fundamentally important region of the country for so many reasons.
As we approach a super El Niño weather event, Canadians living downstream of the Nooksack River should not have to wonder which government is responsible as another flood approaches. I know you said that you were at the Sumas Prairie Watershed Table, but my question is: Have you secured specific commitments from American authorities to reduce the Nooksack River flood risk? That’s where it is coming from.
I’m sorry, senator. I do understand that. At the present time, I have not personally had discussions with any American officials, nor has my parliamentary secretary. It is my understanding, though, from being part of that table, that there are already discussions taking place between British Columbia and the United States.
Minister, in the same vein, British Columbians are being warned the super El Niño phenomenon could intensify a giant underwater wave of water, commonly called a Kelvin wave, which can raise water levels by more than 30 centimetres. Communities in B.C. are, unfortunately, painfully aware of how quickly extreme weather events can turn into emergencies, and I have witnessed it. I know people who live in the valley. You are at the table, so can you explain the specific steps you are taking now to ensure federal resources are available to British Columbia if it will require assistance? Have you made certain commitments? What have you discussed at the Sumas Prairie Watershed Table?
The commitment at this point in time is the sum of $20 million to help British Columbia deal with mitigating flood risk. As I have indicated, that would include engineering and various studies. That will not be the end of it because we have committed to working with that table. We have signed a memorandum of understanding, and we will be there for the people of British Columbia in that area.
Thank you for having been there. I have a comment on something specific. In California, which is already feeling the effects of the Kelvin wave, authorities are already placing emergency sand on beaches in an effort to deter rising water. Minister, what is your department doing ahead of the arrival of these waves to mitigate the flood risks in B.C.? I know there’s the B.C. government and the group working on the ground. Are there specific things the federal government has also put in place?
To my knowledge, senator, there are not at this time. That does not mean there will not be. I can tell you, at least based on what I know, that was not the nature of the discussions the last time we were at the Sumas Prairie Watershed Table. I appreciate the concerns that you are raising with me, and I will raise them with my department. I commit to you to do that. Thank you.
