Trudeau and Biden discussed problem of floodwaters spilling into B.C. from Wash. state
The problem of floodwaters gushing from Washington state across the border into British Columbia was raised during a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden last week.
The historic storm that landed earlier this month caused the Nooksack River to surge and spill over into the Washington communities of Everson, Nooksack and Sumas – and then into B.C.'s Sumas Prairie, contributing to flooding that's estimated to have caused up to $1 billion worth of damage in the City of Abbotsford.
After touring the flood-ravaged community on Friday, Trudeau said the ongoing threat of the Nooksack River spilling into Canada "was absolutely a topic of conversation" at his recent meeting with Biden.
"He expressed his concern and support for the people of British Columbia who were going through these terrible incidents," Trudeau said.
"These are the things that we are going to continue to work on together because as good neighbours, we are interwoven in a way that doesn't always respect lines drawn by people on a map."
Diking systems on both sides of the border were damaged during the intense Nov. 14 storm, which also triggered landslides, washouts and other serious impacts on an estimated 200 points along the province's highways.
The dikes along B.C.'s Sumas River were repaired by Friday, while U.S. crews were still said to be working on repairs along the Nooksack.
Officials in Whatcom County said the Nooksack River is projected to reach "moderate flood stage" on Sunday, but that the impact could be greater than normally would be expected at those levels due to levee damage.
"Sunday morning’s predicted flows are likely high enough to overtop Main Street in Everson," the county said in a statement on Friday. "The potential also exists for this to impact Sumas."
National Guard troops were also deployed to help with sandbagging efforts and provide other emergency supports in the state on Saturday.
Premier John Horgan said the catastrophic flooding experienced in British Columbia has prompted officials to rethink the province's dike management system, which is largely the responsibility of local governments.
Horgan called the decision to leave diking up to municipalities "a bad call" made by a previous government.
"The intent there was to give local control and autonomy, and I support that in principal," he said. "But the consequence of that is that local rate-payers have been asked to take on an extraordinary burden that historically had been handled by the two other orders of government."
Horgan said he discussed the need for provincial and federal funding to support those efforts, particularly as Canada braces for the ongoing impacts of climate change, with the prime minister during their meeting on Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.