About a dozen local disaster mitigation and preparedness projects have been approved under the province's MPP program.

“Our government is committed to supporting not only the post-disaster recovery needs of municipalities, but also their capacity to prepare for future events,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk. “This innovative initiative, delivered through the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization, offers an important opportunity for municipalities to build local resiliency against natural disasters, extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change.”

First introduced in 2020, the MPP opens when a disaster financial assistance (DFA) program is established for a natural disaster and the cost of the DFA program is sufficient to be eligible for federal cost-sharing arrangements.

The majority of municipalities with a claim under the 2022 Spring Flood DFA program also applied for MPP project funding, which enables municipalities to invest municipal DFA deductibles into an approved mitigation or preparedness project. Up to a maximum of $2.6 million in municipal DFA deductibles will now be used by municipalities to undertake these 89 local projects.

The MPP provides municipalities with flexibility to use deductibles for a project of their choice that builds local resiliency to natural disasters including the purchase of equipment or use of funds for a capital project. Municipalities also have the option to place funds in reserve until a project is selected.

Projects in the Pembina Valley and Red River Valley include:
- Municipality of Emerson-Franklin: up to a maximum of $20,629.21 for sewer lift station generators for Dominion City and Emerson; 
- Rural Municipality of Montcalm: up to a maximum of $10,818.27 for a reserve fund; 
- City of Morden: up to a maximum of $84,048.99 to increase the capacity of the Parkhill Street Bridge on Dead Horse Creek; 
- Rural Municipality of Louise: up to a maximum of $17,141.63 for a drainage study near Pilot Mound; 
- Rural Municipality of Morris: up to a maximum of $25,809.79 for road improvements to raise Road 2E (Riverside Road); 
- Rural Municipality of Piney: up to a maximum of $15,601.00 for road improvements to raise Road 81E south of Sprague;
- Rural Municipality of Rhineland: up to a maximum of $49,257.84 for equipment purchases to monitor Border Road during flood events; 
- Town of Altona: up to a maximum of $36,120.16 to expand the existing northwest storm drainage ditch; 
- Rural Municipality of Dufferin: up to a maximum of $21,526.50 to rip rap culverts;
- Rural Municipality of Stanley: up to a maximum of $76,024.17 for a generator for municipal offices;
- Rural Municipality of Roland: up to a maximum of $9,692.43 to raise Arctic Road; 
- Municipality of Pembina: up to a maximum of $20,366.79 for a culvert steamer with covered trailer

“We commend the Manitoba government for investing in 89 municipal projects under the 2022 MPP. We also commend municipalities for participating in this important program and investing in projects to help our communities become more resilient,” said Kam Blight, president, Association of Manitoba Municipalities. “As municipalities cannot fight extreme weather events alone, this funding support will not only help build local resiliency but also help municipalities better prepare and invest in disaster mitigation infrastructure to avoid costly damages in the future.”