Manitoba calls on Ottawa to flood-proof reserves as cost of evacuation hits $90M

January 20, 2014 - 12:09 PM

WINNIPEG - Manitoba is calling on the federal government to invest heavily to flood-proof reserves.

Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton says Ottawa should spend millions to upgrade chronically flooded reserves and save money down the road.

He says many native people were historically moved onto a flood plain and should be better protected.

About 2,000 aboriginal people are still out of their homes almost three years after severe flooding in Manitoba in the spring of 2011.

The tab for caring for those evacuees has cost the federal government just over $90 million so far.

Ashton says that money would have been better spent upgrading communities so homes were safe from flood waters.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014

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