The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has applauded a move by the government of British Columbia to invest tens of millions of dollars in improving its disaster preparedness capabilities. The provincial government is seeking to mitigate the impact of severe weather, such as earthquakes, wildfires, and floods.
 
Bill Adams, vice-president, Western & Pacific, IBC, said, "We are very pleased with the emergency preparedness investments contained in today's BC budget, particularly in flood mitigation, earthquake preparedness and wildfire prevention. We also applaud government's significant investment in infrastructure and seismic upgrades on school, hospitals and transportation networks."
 
The proposals put forth by the government of BC include investments in Emergency Management BC for increased planning and outreach for natural disasters, emergency preparedness and prevention projects, including dike upgrades and flood protection. The provincial government also plans to create a Forest Enhancement Society of BC, which is tasked to prevent and combat wildfires.
 
The IBC also lauded the BC government’s efforts to educate the public on how to protect themselves and their property in case of extreme weather and natural disasters.