Insurance Bureau of Canada is urging governments and homeowners to strengthen flood preparedness as spring flooding continues to affect communities across the country and forecasters warn that unsettled weather patterns could keep the risk elevated in the months ahead.
The industry group said flooding remains Canada’s most frequent and costly natural disaster, with insured losses from flood and water-related events rising more than 350% over the past two decades compared with the previous 20-year period. This year’s spring flooding has already damaged homes, disrupted local communities and put additional strain on municipal infrastructure in several regions.
“From spring thaw to intense rainfall events, flooding is becoming more frequent, more severe and more costly in communities across Canada,” said Liam McGuinty, vice-president of federal affairs at IBC. “We need coordinated action from all orders of government, industry and homeowners to reduce risk, strengthen resilience and protect Canadians from the rising costs of extreme weather.”
To reduce losses and help keep home insurance affordable, IBC is calling on governments to accelerate action in several areas. These include strengthening land-use planning to avoid building new homes in high-risk flood plains, requiring community-level mitigation measures where development in flood-prone areas cannot be avoided, and investing in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to help municipalities manage heavier rainfall.
The bureau also wants stronger building codes and construction standards so new homes are built with flood-resilient features suited to current and future climate conditions. It is also advocating for expanded home retrofit programs to encourage practical mitigation measures that can reduce damage and lower recovery costs.
Another priority is improving public awareness of flood risk. IBC is urging provinces to opt in to the federal government’s Flood Risk Finder and is calling for clearer consumer-facing information to help homeowners, renters and businesses understand the risks they face and the steps they can take to reduce them.
“The most effective way to ensure the continued sustainability of the home insurance market is by creating more resilient communities,” McGuinty said. “That means better flood maps, smarter land-use decisions, building codes that account for a changing climate and investments in infrastructure.
Investing in resilience now is the smartest, most cost-effective way to protect Canadians and their communities for the long term.”
IBC said Canadians can also take steps on their own, including understanding local flood risks, maintaining drainage systems, considering backwater valves or sump pumps where appropriate, and reviewing their insurance coverage. The bureau said additional tools and guidance are available through its water damage and flood protection resources.
