Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of a serious situation that is affecting southwestern Manitoba and my riding of Brandon—Souris. The residents of the area are preparing for one of the worst floods the area has seen in 20 years.
The Souris River is predicted to rise well above flood stage. Several hundred acres are under water right now in the Souris Valley with the river expected to peak around April 21st. Some businesses are already feeling the affects of the flood.
Farmers could be especially hard hit. If water stays too long in the fields, crops will not be seeded in time and what little profits there are will wash away.
Provincial flood forecaster, Alf Warkentin, said recently that the length of this year's Souris River flood would depend on the weather. If there are any more rain storms it could stay until June.
As with the Saguenay and the Red River Valley, I urge the government to apply the same consistency in the level of compensation to those affected by the Souris River flood. The livelihood of farmers and other businesses in the area are at stake. It is time for the federal government to start becoming proactive and develop a long term disaster assistance program.