REGINA — Canada's public safety minister says flooding is teaching all levels of government some expensive lessons.
Ralph Goodale says climate change means annual flooding that damages homes isn't going away and it is only going to get worse.
Goodale made the comments as several communities across New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario are struggling with rivers that have spilled their banks, and there is more heavy rain in the forecast.
Goodale says in Quebec, 3,150 residences have been flooded, 1,111 people are out of their homes and 12 municipalities have declared emergencies.
In New Brunswick, Goodale says 140 roads have been flooded, 290 people are out of their homes and downtown Fredericton is closed, while in Ontario, the City of Ottawa and several other municipalities have declared emergencies.
Goodale says more than 1,000 soldiers are helping with the flood fight in Quebec, 310 are in New Brunswick and about 400 are being deployed in Ontario.