Canada: Spend more on disaster planning to save in emergency relief, evaluation says

Federal spending to respond to fires, floods and storms has ballooned over the years, but big savings could be achieved through more upfront spending to fortify vulnerable communities, according to a new evaluation of the government's disaster relief assistance program.

The report says the average annual federal share of response and recovery costs has been increasing due to more frequent and intense weather events.

• $10 million between 1970 and 1995.
• $110 million between 1996 and 2010. 
• $360 million between 2011 and 2016. 

The federal program has shelled out more recovery funds over the last six years than in its first 39 fiscal years combined.

The recently released internal review of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, which helps provinces and territories bear the burden of huge unexpected costs incurred by extreme weather and natural disasters, said more spending on risk reduction is "crucial" to help save lives, cut response costs and decrease environmental damage.

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