An envelope totaling $228 million was released Monday by Ottawa and Victoria to help British Columbia farmers affected by the historic floods last November.
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“We are here to help them rebuild and allow them to focus again on what they do best: producing high-quality food for Canadians,” said the Minister of Agriculture and of Agribusiness, Marie-Claude Bibeau.
In the aftermath of the “atmospheric river” which had dumped torrential rains totaling up to 250mm in places, the Sumas grassland – a former dry lake for agriculture – had found itself underwater for days, much to the chagrin of farmers.
Among other things, tens of thousands of animals perished in the floods and many buildings were inundated.
In total, the governments estimate that “more than 1,100 farms, 15,000 hectares and 2.5 million prairie cattle Sumas, in Abbotsford, Merritt and Princeton have been affected by the floods”.
The recovery program announced on Monday, the costs of which will be borne 60% by the federal government and 40% by British Columbia, will notably make it possible to restore agricultural land and buildings and cover the cost of replacing livestock.
Governments hope in this way not only to help farmers, but also to ensure food security in the province and the country.
“The November floods are the most devastating disaster in British Columbia’s history; they resulted in significant losses for the province’s farmers and food producers. [Ce Programme] will allow them to resume production and will add to the collective efforts already made to ensure the resilience of the province’s food system and economy,” commented the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries of the province. British Columbia, Lana Popham.