Federal military to help with Parkland, Man., flood response, minister says
Federal military help is on the way for communities affected by devastating flooding in Manitoba's Parkland region.
Canada's Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said she approved the provincial government's request for help with flood response and recovery efforts in a statement to CBC News late Friday.
Olszewski said federal officials had been in ongoing discussions with Premier Wab Kinew and Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, who is responsible for emergency management, since July 1.
(CBC)
The federal government will deploy a small team of Canadian Armed Forces members to help with immediate incident response, including logistical assistance and resource co-ordination, she said.
Veteran-led disaster response group Team Rubicon Canada, whose volunteers helped with flood preparation in Peguis First Nation earlier this spring, is being mobilized too.
The Canadian Red Cross is already working in the region, the minister said.
Officials with Canada's Government Operations Centre are offering coordination support to their provincial counterparts, including relieving incident response workers and getting important equipment like pumps and cleanup supplies.
(CBC/Corey Holian)
As floodwaters recede and communities start recovery work, the federal government's humanitarian partners, such as the Red Cross, will stay on the ground to help, she said.
The province will get financial support from the federal government for this emergency response too, the minister said.
"We will continue working with the Province of Manitoba, local leaders and Indigenous partners, to make sure Manitobans have the support they need now and, in the weeks, and months ahead as recovery continues," Olszewski said.
Thumbnail courtesy of Jarett Robak via CBC.
The story was originally written by and published for CBC News. It contains files from Ian Froese.