2009-07-17 16:21:04 -

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/17/09 -- The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, today announced that the Government of Canada will cost share eligible provincial expenditures incurred by Manitoba through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) for damages caused by spring flooding during the months of March, April and May 2009.



"Many Manitobans were affected by the spring flooding. During the flooding, our Government worked closely with the Province to ensure Manitobans had the support they needed. We continue to work closely with the Province, now that the waters have subsided. We understand that significant costs have been incurred to deal with the damage and we will be assisting the Province of Manitoba with those costs," said Minister Toews.



Significant overland flooding occurred in a number of Manitoba's watershed areas as a result of snow melt, seasonal precipitation and ice break up. Homes were flooded and evacuations were necessary in affected communities including Roseau River First Nation, Sioux Falls, Peguis First Nation, St. Andrews, St. Clements and Selkirk.



Minister Van Loan and Minister Toews visited the flood affected areas on April 24th and viewed the temporary dike systems along the Red River and the operation of the floodway in St. Andrews, as well as some of the damage within the City of Winnipeg.



The province has indicated that initial estimates of the damages caused by the flood are approximately $40 million.



For more information on the federal DFAA program and its guidelines, please visit Public Safety Canada's website www.publicsafety.gc.ca : .

Contacts:
Public Safety Canada
Media Relations
613-991-0657