BC Flood and Wildfire Review launches province-wide consultation

kamloops, Feb. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the BC Flood and Wildfire Review launched a province-wide consultation to determine how to better plan for and respond to future flood and wildfire events.

“We believe British Columbians will provide vital information that will help shape the recommendations we make to the Province,” said Chief Maureen Chapman, co-chair of the BC Flood and Wildfire Review. “We need to have a real conversation to understand how people were impacted by the overwhelming 2017 flood and wildfire season.”

The public consultation is launching in Kamloops, with the first of several community events. The review team will travel through areas most impacted by the 2017 flood and wildfire events. The review will also include online engagement opportunities to ensure cross-province participation.

“Providing people multiple avenues for engagement is important to us,” said co-chair George Abbott. “British Columbians have so much valuable information that will help us plan for and respond to these disasters in the future.”

Between January and March, the co-chairs are also meeting with industry representatives, and First Nations and government officials to gather further input.

The independent review — commissioned by the Government of British Columbia — is examining provincial and local government emergency management systems to determine how the Province can improve its governance systems, statutes, regulations, policy and leadership practices as they relate to flood and wildfire practices. The review’s findings will be delivered to the Province in a final report, targeted for release late-April 2018.

Visit www.bcfloodfirereview.ca to learn more about engagement opportunities and the review, or to make a written submission.

Contact:
Darcy Vermeulen
[email protected] (604) 368-8228