VICTORIA- British Columbia’s Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene is leading a high-level delegation to Ottawa this week to demand federal funding for critical flood prevention in the Fraser Valley. The move follows ongoing concerns over the Abbotsford region’s vulnerability to flooding, particularly when the Nooksack River in Washington State overflows and sends water surging across the border. Minister Greene emphasized that federal financial commitment is essential to protecting the region’s residents and infrastructure from future disasters.
Joining the provincial minister for the three-day visit are Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens and Sumas First Nation Chief Dalton Silver. The group is scheduled to meet with several federal officials, including Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson. The primary goal of these meetings is to secure long-term investment for a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy that addresses the unique geographical challenges of the Sumas Prairie and the surrounding areas.
A central theme of the discussions will be the protection of First Nations communities, who have historically borne the brunt of flooding in the valley. Chief Dalton Silver and Minister Greene noted that the current mission is about ensuring that Indigenous lands and lives are prioritized in large-scale infrastructure planning. Leaders argue that because the flooding is tied to international water management with the United States, the federal government has a unique responsibility to provide the necessary resources.
The delegation remains hopeful that this direct engagement will lead to a concrete funding agreement. Mayor Siemens has previously pointed out that while the province has made some investments, the scale of the required work—including pump station upgrades and dike reinforcements—far exceeds local and provincial budgets. By presenting a united front in Ottawa, B.C. leaders hope to finally secure the federal partnership needed to safeguard the Fraser Valley’s agricultural heartland and its residents.
