London, Ontario, March 27, 2019 — Now more than ever, communities need help adapting to the frequent and intensifying weather events caused by climate change. Reducing the impact of natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires is critical to keeping Canadian families safe, protecting local businesses and supporting a strong economy and the middle class.
Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, today announced funding for phases 5 to 13 of the West London Dyke Reconstruction Project in London.
Project work includes the reconstruction of approximately 1,600 metres of the West London Dyke, from Blackfriars Bridge, north to Oxford Street West, and from the Forks, west to Cavendish Park. Work will increase dyke elevation to better protect thousands of residents and businesses from rising water levels from the Thames River. Once complete, this project will improve the City's ability to mitigate the effects of storm and flooding events, while also protecting public utilities and transportation services, and ensuring the health and well-being of residents.
In addition to providing critical flood mitigation, the dyke is also an integral part of the City's recreational pathway system that extends through numerous parks and recreation areas of downtown London. This project will further protect these natural spaces, allowing residents and visitors to maintain healthy, active lifestyles for years to come.
The Government of Canada is contributing up to $10 million to this project through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. The City of London will provide the remainder of the project funding. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority will manage the project in partnership with the City.
"Taking concrete steps to adapt to the impacts of climate change is essential to ensuring a safe prosperous future for our families, our businesses and the environment. This project will mitigate future flood damage in downtown London, protecting essential services during extreme weather events. By investing in infrastructure that protects communities now, we are ensuring that Canadians can thrive and prosper for generations to come."
Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"Extreme weather is becoming more severe, more frequent, more damaging and more expensive because of climate change. By investing in the infrastructure that protects our neighbourhoods, businesses, and families, we are building communities that can withstand future natural disasters and thrive for generations to come."
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety
"Londoners have experienced the effects of climate change and extreme weather. Mitigating these effects before they happen is critical to reducing social, personal and economic loss in the future. The reconstruction of the West London Dyke is a positive step towards making London more resilient to extreme flooding."
Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre
"The West London Dyke Reconstruction project will help protect our community from the flooding that we have seen in the past. I would like to recognize our local and municipal partners, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, for their dedication to protecting our communities through their work on this project."
Kate Young, Member of Parliament for London West
"Investing in high-quality infrastructure is an essential part of building a healthy, strong community. Through projects like this we're working to protect vulnerable areas from flooding both now – and in the future."
His Worship, Ed Holder, Mayor of the City of London
"The federal funding from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will significantly reduce the time needed to complete the West London Dyke reconstruction project, and reduce the flood risk to more than 1200 homes and businesses behind the dyke."
Sandy Levin, Chair, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
Quick facts
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The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) is a $2-billion, 10-year program to help communities build the infrastructure they need to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and droughts.
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DMAF is part of the federal government's Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, which is providing more than $180 billion over 12 years for public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities.
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Investing in green infrastructure that helps communities cope with the intensifying effects of climate change is an integral part of Canada's transition to a more resilient, low-carbon economy, which is among the commitments made under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
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Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class, is the government's plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare.
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Announcements in Budget 2019 build on the Government's Investing in Canada Plan, under which the Government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years to build infrastructure in communities across the country.
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With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities.
