Fraser-Nicola MLA seeking details around how and when BC Budget recovery funding will be used

MERRITT, B.C. — After a history years of wildfires and flooding, the B.C. government has pledged more than $2 billion to help people recover from those events. From this funding, $1.5 billion over the next three years will support ongoing flood recovery.

On the heels of this week’s provincial budget announcement, the MLA for Fraser-Nicola wants to see exactly how recovery funds will be spent.

“We see quite large numbers in the budget in regards to recovery funding and climate change, but no specifics on how you qualify for those numbers,” notes Jackie Tegart.

Tegart’s riding includes flood-damaged Merritt and fire-charred Lytton. Seven months have passed since the wildfire that ripped through Lytton, and Tegart says residents are frustrated with how long it is taking to get to the rebuild stage.

“To hear Lytton mentioned once, and yet when I look through the document looking for any kind of financial support for Lytton, I’m still digging to look for that. So where is it in the document,” she says, “And I think as we go through the estimates we’ll find clarity around that.”

The budget does include a one-time boost for flood recovery costs under the Emergency Program Act, from $36 million to $436 million.

Within the Fraser-Nicola, Merritt residents in ‘green’ or ‘yellow’ damage zones are back home, and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told reporters this week that assessments are ongoing for homes in ‘red’ zones.

“We are now getting to those that have homes that are uninhabitable for example. And those people are in accommodations and will continue to be supported through the Red Cross until such time that they are able to return home.”

The Fraser-Nicola riding also includes the Highway 8 corridor, which was wrecked by flooding, as well the Cache Creek and Bonaparte areas, which is prone to spring freshet floods.

Tegart wants to know that money can be accessed quickly for spring mitigation work.

“Those kinds of funds need to be available from the provincial and federal government. And that’s not clear to us in the document that was presented by the government.”

With sizable funds labelled for recovery, Tegart says she’ll be trying to get answers in the next several weeks during estimates around how the money will be spent, who qualifies for it, and how the province plans to follow through.

“We’re expecting people who have been devastated to carry a huge load, and I know that local governments are trying their best to assist in any way they can. But I think provincial and federal governments need to step up to the plate. We’ve been talking about climate change for a long time.”