Canadian voices on changing flood risk

This report presents the findings of a national survey, which gathered the opinions of 2,300 individuals from across the country who live in communities with high flood risk. The findings reveal that homeowners lack awareness of flood risk and the protection options available for them to play their part in reducing flood risk. 

Key findings

• Due to rising costs, the federal and provincial governments are finding ways to reduce flood risks and share responsibility for protection and recovery with Canadian homeowners.
• Canadians are ready to take on a greater role in flood protection — 83% believe that homeowners are responsible for personal protection.
• Despite this sense of duty, less than 30% of Canadians are taking actions to protect their property from flooding and show limited interest in flood insurance.
• This inaction is a result of a gap in flood risk awareness. Only 6% know they live in a designated flood risk area, and only 21% believe that the risk of flooding will increase over the next 25 years.
• Canadians need and want more information to be actively engaged in flood management and protected from flood risks. There is a major opportunity for transparent information sharing.
• Over 90% of homeowners think that flood maps should be made publicly available, sellers of property should be required to disclose flood risk, and property owners should be notified if their home is located in a flood risk area.