Mayor eyes new flood protection measures

A day after a massive downpour flooded Toronto and caused an estimated $1 billion in damage, Mayor Olivia Chow is asking council to step up efforts to soften the blow of future storms.

- BEN SPURR

In a draft motion that the mayor plans to send to next week's council meeting a copy of which was shared with the StarChow warned that because of climate change, "Toronto is experiencing more frequent and severe storms, resulting in flooding events that impact our road and transit network, our homes and businesses, and our infrastructure." "While the city must invest in meeting our emissions reduction goals, we must also invest in mitigating the impacts of climate change and making our city more resilient," it said.

If the motion is approved, staff would be asked to report back by the end of the year on programs that could provide homeowners with incentives to decrease impermeable surfaces on their properties in order to reduce storm runoff.

It also asks for information on the uptake of existing residential stormwater mitigation programs, and on any that the city previously offered but has discontinued.

Chow told reporters at city hall Wednesday that there are simple steps Torontonians can take to reduce the risk of flooding for themselves and their neighbours, like diverting downspouts to flow into rain barrels or gardens, greening their front yards to absorb more water, and using interlocking bricks on paved surfaces.