Summary#

This bill orders the federal government to create a national strategy for forecasting floods and droughts. The Minister of the Environment must lead the work, consult many partners, and table the strategy in Parliament within two years of the law taking effect (Bill Section 3; Section 4(1)). A follow-up report on how well the strategy works is due five years after the strategy is tabled (Bill Section 5(1)).

• Creates a plan to coordinate flood and drought forecasting across Canada (Bill Section 3(1), 3(3)(c)).
• Requires broad consultations with provinces, municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies, universities, civil society, industry, and insurers (Bill Section 3(2)).
• Calls for assessments of needs, benefits, and new technologies, plus flood-risk modelling for properties and infrastructure (Bill Section 3(3)(a)-(b)).
• Directs preparation of a proposal for a cooperative national hydrological and water-resources forecasting service (Bill Section 3(3)(d)).
• Requires public release of the strategy and the later effectiveness report within 10 days of tabling (Bill Section 4(2); Section 5(2)).

What it means for you#

• Households

  • No immediate change to services. The bill creates a strategy, not a new program. Any new maps or alerts would come later, if the government funds and implements the strategy’s proposals (Bill Section 3(3)(d)).
  • The strategy must assess modelling that identifies properties at flood risk, which could lead to better local risk information in the future (Bill Section 3(3)(b)).

• Farmers and water‑dependent industries

  • Potential for improved short- and long-term drought and flood forecasts, if the proposed national system is later created and funded (Bill Section 3(3)(c)-(d)).
  • Input opportunities during consultations for sector-specific forecasting needs (Bill Section 3(2)).

• Indigenous communities

  • Guaranteed role in consultations on the strategy’s design and priorities (Bill Section 3(2)).
  • Possible access to better forecasting and flood‑plain information later, depending on future implementation (Bill Section 3(3)(c)).

• Municipalities and provinces

  • Formal venue to coordinate with the federal government and each other on forecasting and data standards (Bill Section 3(1)-(2)).
  • The strategy must assess how to delineate current and future flood‑plains, which could inform land-use planning if adopted (Bill Section 3(3)(c)).

• Insurance sector

  • Participation in consultations. Possible access later to nationally consistent risk data and models, aiding pricing and coverage decisions (Bill Section 3(2)-(3)).

• Researchers and universities

  • Expect engagement on model development and integration, as named stakeholders (Bill Section 3(2)).
  • The strategy will evaluate applying novel technologies in forecasting (Bill Section 3(3)(a)).

• Timeline and transparency

  • Strategy due within two years of the Act coming into force; public online within 10 days of tabling (Bill Section 4(1)-(2)).
  • Effectiveness report due five years after the strategy is tabled; also published within 10 days (Bill Section 5(1)-(2)).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No explicit appropriations or new spending authorities are in the bill text (entire bill).
• The bill mandates developing and publishing a strategy and an effectiveness report. Administrative costs are not stated. Data unavailable.
• Any future costs to build or run a national forecasting service would depend on later government decisions and funding not contained in this bill (Bill Section 3(3)(d)).

Proponents' View#

• National coordination can reduce harm from floods and droughts by improving forecasts and warnings, which are currently fragmented across provinces (Preamble; Bill Section 3(1), 3(3)(c)).
• A strategy that assesses new investments and technologies could modernize forecasting using advanced models and computing, improving accuracy and lead time (Preamble; Bill Section 3(3)(a)).
• Property- and infrastructure‑level risk modelling can support better land-use planning, mitigation, and insurance pricing (Bill Section 3(3)(b)).
• A proposal for a cooperative national hydrological forecasting service gives a concrete next step rather than a vague plan (Bill Section 3(3)(d)).
• Broad consultations ensure the strategy reflects needs of provinces, municipalities, Indigenous communities, farmers, and insurers (Bill Section 3(2)).

Opponents' View#

• The bill creates a planning process but does not create services; benefits depend on future funding and agreements that are not guaranteed (Bill Section 3(3)(d); Section 4–5).
• Possible duplication with existing provincial systems; unclear how federal coordination would align with provincial jurisdiction over water management (Bill Section 3(1)-(2)).
• Costs are unspecified. Without a fiscal plan, the scope of proposed national systems and their long‑term operating costs are uncertain. Data unavailable.
• Timelines may delay tangible improvements; households and farmers may not see changes until after the two‑year strategy window and subsequent implementation (Bill Section 4(1)).
• The Act sets deadlines but no enforcement or penalties for missed milestones, which could limit accountability (Bill Section 4–5).