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Fraser Valley First Nations on Wrong Side of Dikes
June 5, 2007 - 6:34am
Another good reason for self government.
Of course, Global has not covered this in anyway shape or form.
I doubt very much that furthur division of authority regarding flood protection will serve the interests of the Skway or any of the other small bands in the Fraser Valley.
As the Tyee article states,dyking the Skway land will cost $20 million for 200 residents which is $100k/person. It is a federal responsibility.
The BC Provincial Emergency Program is a reactionary stop-gap with a $33 Million fund for emergency dyking the whole province this year. PEP pisses away millions on feel-good flood reaction but only has a mandate for EMERGENCY funding. This program is very much open to political manipulation.
The problem in BC,as well as what we have seen in New Orleans is that proactive investment in flood protection is not as politically rewarding as reactive damage control.
Shovelling money off the back of a truck in full view of the TV cameras is a politician's dream come true. What isn't shown on TV is the bureaucratic niggling and pennypinching that renders PEP claims ineffective to recoup damages from government.
Every flood it is the same,with TV crews in helicopters hovering like seagulls and reporters asking the stupidest questions a city critter can come up with. As soon as the excitement is over,the very moment that peak water is reached,they are gone ,never questioning the messy aftermath.
This time, the heavily populated Fraser Valley may get damaged. Since it is now the city critters that will suffer,amid the squealling and finger pointing,a cohesive multi-jurisdictional flood protection plan may emerge.
Cynic that I am, I believe that as soon as the waters go down,the victims including the Skway, will be left to their own devices as usual,the TV cameras and inane reporters rushing off to the next photo op and the politicians weaseling out of whatever promises they made.
Look to New Orleans as the precident.