Province supports community efforts to protect against climate hazards

Press Release

July 10, 2025

VICTORIA – More people in B.C. will be better protected from natural and climate-driven hazards as the Province invests more than $6 million for 11 community projects.

As the frequency of climate-driven events increases, the Province is taking steps to help communities reduce the impacts of hazards before they happen. This funding from the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program supports First Nations and local governments in implementing local projects to protect people and communities from natural and climate hazards.

“Communities in B.C. are experiencing more frequent and more extreme climate-related emergencies, so it’s more important than ever to take action to prepare for and reduce these risks,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “These projects are examples of strong provincial partnerships with First Nations and local governments to make people safer and communities stronger.”

The Village of Hazelton is receiving $3.6 million from the DRIF program, plus an additional $6.4 million from the Province to build a new 1.2-kilometre dike along the Skeena River. This $10-million project includes both new dike construction and the raising of an existing dike, reducing the risk of flooding by limiting high water from the Skeena River.

“The Village of Hazelton is grateful to the Province for supporting this important flood-mitigation project through the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program,” said Julie Maitland, mayor of Hazelton. “Strengthening our dike will help protect vital infrastructure, businesses and homes in our community, while increasing our resilience to the impacts of climate change along the Skeena River.”

Other key projects include:

• a flood-hazard-and-mitigation assessment by the Homalco First Nation that will support risk reduction and infrastructure-project planning and design;
• A design project for a new water intake dam for the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, to make the community more resilient against floods and drought; and
• A flood-risk management strategy by the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band to help plan and design future structural and non-structural flood-mitigation projects.

The DRIF program provides support to First Nations and local governments for projects that enhance their ability to withstand and adapt to natural and climate-caused hazards, such as floods, drought, extreme temperatures, earthquakes and landslides.

This is the second funding announcement under the DRIF program. In May 2025, approximately $21 million was provided to support 46 projects throughout B.C.

Since 2017, Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness funding programs have provided more than $551 million for about 2,800 disaster-preparedness and mitigation projects.

Quotes:

Darren Blaney, Chief, Homalco First Nation –

“Access to funding like this helps to protect my community, increase our resilience and make it possible for us to build in a responsible way. Building more housing is a critical need for Homalco, but we need to make sure we’re doing it right for future generations. Flood protection and working with the natural features of our land is crucial to our future as a community.”

Isaiah Robinson, deputy chief councillor, Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation –

“This funding from the Province is critical to protecting the Kitasoo Xai’xais community from the risk of dam failure and ensuring safe access for urgent mitigation work. It safeguards our domestic water supply, fire-protection systems and essential infrastructure, all vital to the health and safety of our people. This support strengthens our climate resilience today and helps lay the groundwork for a permanent, more secure solution for future generations.”

Tamara Davidson, MLA, North Coast-Haida Gwaii –

“Climate change is causing more severe weather, so we are acting now to reduce risk and protect our communities. This funding will help the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation design a new water-intake dam to replace the outdated structure, boosting the Nation’s resilience to floods and drought, as well as assist in planning for the Central Coast Regional District for possible climate emergencies.”

Quick Facts:

• The DRIF program complements other provincial disaster-preparedness and mitigation programs, including:
  • the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which has provided more than $342 million to First Nations and local governments for more than 2,500 projects since 2017;
  • the Community Resiliency Investment program, including FireSmart initiatives, providing stable, ongoing funding to reduce wildfire risks; and
  • the $100-million Agricultural Water Infrastructure program, which supports new or improved water storage and supply systems for irrigation and livestock in water-scarce and drought-prone areas.

Learn More:

For more information about the DRIF program and how to apply, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content? id=76C1AA90A3844FDE9740B2E8B9355842

For information about disaster and climate-risk reduction and available supports, visit: https://www.ClimateReadyBC.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Media Relations
250 880-6430

BACKGROUNDER

Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program recipients

The Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program provides support to First Nations and local governments for projects that will enhance their ability to withstand and adapt to natural hazards and climate-driven events.

Funding is available in two categories:

• Structural projects
• Foundational and non-structural projects

Local governments and First Nations throughout British Columbia are receiving more than $6 million for 11 projects as follows:

Structural project

Village of Hazelton: Diking infrastructure and flood protection improvements, $3.6 million

Construction of a new 1.2-kilometre dike and upgrade to an existing dike along the Skeena River to protect critical village infrastructure, including historical structures, homes, businesses, utilities and cultural landmarks.

Foundational and non-structural projects

Central Coast Regional District: Disaster risk reduction and climate-adaptation plan, $290,246

Identifies effective multi-hazard risk-reduction options with a climate-change lens to increase the resilience of the region.

Comox Valley Regional District: Goose Spit climate resiliency project, $275,580

Regional partner: K’omoks First Nation

Assessment of Goose Spit’s protection of residential areas and critical infrastructure from flood, sea-level rise, storm surge and erosion, and to help identify mitigation options.

Cook’s Ferry Indian Band: Shetland Creek hazard and risk assessment, $251,265

Increases resilience for the community by better understanding and reducing natural-hazard risks, including flooding, avalanches, landslides and erosion.

Homalco First Nation: Xwémalhkwu Willow Creek flood-hazard assessment and mitigation design, $399,858

Supports community resilience by providing data to support long-term disaster risk-reduction and climate-adaptation projects to address drought and water scarcity, flood and erosion, and to develop a Willow Creek flood-hazard assessment and disaster-mitigation infrastructure design.

Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation: Klemtu dam design, $394,600

Design for a new water supply intake dam to replace the existing dam, which is at risk of failing and poses significant risk to the community. Increases resilience to both flooding and drought.

Lake Babine Nation: Equipment for extreme temperatures, $61,000

Community members will be protected from extreme temperatures, particularly the elderly and those with high-risk medical conditions, and can reduce response costs for emergency care.

Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations: Climate change and disaster risk assessment, $130,000

Supports long-term planning, ensuring the First Nations are better prepared for climate impacts while respecting and integrating Indigenous knowledge and priorities.

Sumas First Nation: Strategic development for hazard risk and vulnerability resilience, $200,750

By prioritizing key mitigation strategies, Indigenous-led resilience and regional co-ordination, the First Nation is better equipped to build long-term community resilience.

Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band (WPCIB): Flood risk-management strategy, $400,000

Advances flood-mitigation planning that considers climate change. Results to inform preliminary planning and design work for structural and non-structural projects for WPCIB IR #4.

Yakweakwioose First Nation: Interception ditch climate-resilience project, $138,000

Planning and design for nature-based solutions – a rain garden and urban forest – to support community resilience to extreme temperatures and flooding.

Contact:
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Media Relations
250 880-6430

ILR5