flood-hazard-mapping.pdf

30th Jun 2026

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO THE PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
ON BEHALF OF THE AUDITOR GENER AL OF CANADA
2026
Flood Hazard Mapping
INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR’S REPORT

Performance audit reports
This repor t presents the results of a per formance audit conducted by the Of fice of the Auditor General of Canada
(OAG) under the authorit y of the Auditor General Act .
A per formance audit is an independent, objective, and systematic assessment of how well government is
managing its activities, responsibilities, and resources. Audit topics are selected on the basis of their significance.
While the OAG may comment on polic y implementation in a per formance audit, it does not comment on the merits
of a polic y.
Per formance audits are planned, per formed, and repor ted in accordance with professional auditing standards and
OAG policies. They are conducted by qualified auditors who
• establish audit objectives and criteria for the assessment of per formance
• gather the evidence necessary to assess performance against the criteria
• repor t both positive and negative findings
• conclude against the established audit objectives
• make recommendations for improvement when there are significant differences between criteria and
assessed performance
Per formance audits contribute to a public ser vice that is ethical and ef fective and a government that is
accountable to Parliament and Canadians.
This publication is available on our website at w w w.oag-bvg.gc.ca .
Cette publication est également offerte en français.
© His Majest y the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Auditor General of Canada, 2026.
Icons for United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are used with permission.
The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the
United Nations or its of ficials.
C a t . N o. FA1-26 / 2 026 -1-1E – P D F
ISBN 978-0-660-98598-5
I S S N 2 5 61-18 01
Cover photo: Graffizone/Gettyimages.ca

iii
At a Glance
Overall message
Overall, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada
did not ensure the timely production of ef fective flood hazard maps—tools necessar y for climate change
adaptation and for protecting communities. Many maps had not yet been completed, and most of the
existing flood hazard information is not practical or actionable for users. Building resilience to flooding
depends on having reliable, easy -to-use maps. Without them, public safet y and infrastructure are at risk.
Public Safet y Canada is working to launch a flood risk awareness por tal to help people identif y flood risks
in their areas and take steps to prepare. However, the por tal does not consider climate change. In addition,
because the system and its data are proprietar y to the vendor, the depar tment cannot update or adjust the
information to reflect changing conditions.
Natural Resources Canada funds flood map development and tracks which areas are being mapped, but
missing per formance indicators and unclear definitions make it dif ficult to account for program results. The
depar tment committed to mapping 200 higher‑risk areas by 2028; however, it did not monitor whether the
mapping projects covered the priorit y areas that had been preliminarily identified in a 2022 analysis. As a
result, fewer than half of the maps covered the originally identified higher -risk areas.
To be best prepared for climate change, maps must be reliable and released promptly. Natural Resources
Canada was not on track to have all the flood maps in production publicly available by 2028.
Flood hazard maps must integrate climate change projections; other wise, the data are not accurate enough
to guide long -term decisions, such as where to build homes or develop infrastructure. Without up -to-date
information readily available to the public, people in Canada face escalating risks to public safet y and higher
disaster recovery costs.

iv
Key facts and findings
• Canada’s National Risk Profile noted that about 80% of highly populated areas
were located, at least par tially, in flood hazard zones.
• The federal government spent an average of about $230 million annually from
2016 to 2025 in post‑flood relief.
• Public Safet y Canada missed its deadline to release Canada -wide flood risk
ratings through a flood risk awareness por tal by the end of 2025.
• As of December 31, 2025, out of 131 mapping projects under way:
• only 64 (49ybLQFOXGHGSULRULt y areas of higher risk as prioritized in
Natural Resources Canada’s 2022 analysis exercise
• only 11 (8ybKDGEHHQbSRVWHGRQWKH&DQDGD)ORRG0DS,QYHQWRr y
See Recommendations and Responses at the end of this repor t.

v
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Background ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
Focus of the audit
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Findings and Recommendations 7
Federal departments did not ensure that flood hazard maps were effective
and readily available
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Public Safety Canada did not incorporate climate change considerations in
its flood risk awareness portal
………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s
approach to review the alignment of flood mapping projects with technical
mapping requirements had gaps
…………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Public Safety Canada and Natural Resources Canada made limited actionable
flood hazard information publicly available
…………………………………………………………………………… 11
Natural Resources Canada did not ensure timely production of flood hazard maps …………… 13
Natural Resources Canada did not track whether funding was directed to maps
for areas identified in the 2022 prioritization exercise …………………………………………………………… 14
Natural Resources Canada was not on track to publish all funded flood mapping
projects by March 2028 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16
Conclusion 19
About the Audit 20
Recommendations and Responses 26
Appendix—Text Descriptions of Exhibits 29

Flood Hazard MappingPage 1 of 31
Introduction
Backg round
Mounting cost
of flooding
1. Flooding is Canada’s most costly and frequent hazard,
damaging homes, vehicles, and public infrastructure. From 2016
to 2025, the federal government spent an average of about
$230 million annually in post‑flood relief, and costs were rising
(Exhibit 1 ). Flooding impacts the safety of individuals, their
communities, and Canada’s economy.
Exhibit 1—The cost of the federal government ’s post‑flood relief is rising
* Adjusted for inf lation, 2025 dollars
Note: Adjusted using the Inf lation Calculator (Bank of Canada) to November 2025. Data are based on payment year. Payments may occur many years af ter f lood events.
Source: Based on information from Public Safet y Canada
Read the Exhibit 1 text description
2. The increase in damage from floods is driven both by
population growth in areas already at high risk of flooding and
by climate change. Canada’s climate is warming twice as fast as
the global average, although these increases are not equal across
Disaster Financial Assistance
Arrangements payments
(in millions)*
0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$1,731
$632
$1,751
$286
$365
$668
$62
$75
$44
$202
$153
2021–2025
2016–2020
2011–2015
2006–2010
2001–2005
1996–2000
1991–1995
1986–1990
1981–1985
1976–1980
1971–1975

Flood Hazard MappingPage 2 of 31
Canada’s diverse geography. Across Canada, it is expected that
climate change will continue to result in more frequent and extreme
precipitation events, and the ensuing costs related to flooding will
keep growing unless the risk of damage is reduced.
3. Any potential source of harm or damage is a hazard. In the
case of flooding, these hazards could include a river overflowing
its banks or heav y rain leading to flash floods. A flood hazard map
identifies where a flood might happen, how extensive it might
be, and how likely it is to occur over a given time period, such as
a flood event with a 1ybSUREDELOLWRIKDSSHQLQJLQDQJLYHQHDU
sometimes referred to as a 1 in 100‑year flood event.
4. In contrast, a flood risk is the potential for damage or
harm because of that event. This is based on the potential social,
economic, and environmental impacts of the flood, such as the cost
of property damage. A flood risk rating expresses the likelihood and
the estimated impact of flooding.
5. In May 2023, the federal government published the first
National Risk Profile. This portrait of the disaster risks facing
Canada—such as earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires—
was meant to raise public awareness and preparedness in the case
of national emergencies. The profile highlighted that flooding did
not impact ever yone equally and that Indigenous Peoples and
northern communities could be disproportionately impacted.
Furthermore, the profile noted that about 83% of people in Canada
lived in urban areas. Significantly, approximately 80% of these
highly populated areas were located at least partially in flood hazard
zones. Despite the number of people potentially affected, the profile
noted that only a patchwork of data was available to inform efforts
to reduce flood risks in Canada and that few people were aware of
these risks.
6. Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, published in 2023,
provides direction to build resilience to more frequent and intense
climate change impacts, such as heat waves, wildfires, and flooding.
For example, the strategy emphasizes the principle of informed
decision making as being important to make infrastructure more
resilient to disasters, like flooding, to avoid damages and provide
co -benefits.
7. Federal budgets have recently included significant
investments, such as Budget 2025’s announced 5‑year funding
of $25 billion in housing and $115 billion in infrastructure. These
financial commitments highlight the need for evidence -based
climate change information to effectively adapt and guide informed
land -use planning and infrastructure development.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 3 of 31
Federal flood hazard
mapping initiatives
8. In 2021, the federal government launched the Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping Program ( Exhibit 2 ).
The program aimed to increase flood hazard information
coverage through cost -sharing projects with provincial and
territorial governments. Provincial and territorial governments
are responsible for conducting flood mapping projects and
addressing flood hazards. Some undertook mapping in -house,
and others delegated to municipalities or conser vation
authorities. Originally scheduled to end in 2024, the program was
extended until 2028 with new funding under Canada’s National
Adaptation Strategy.
9. The Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas initiative ( Exhibit 2 )
contributes to identif ying and preparing for flood events. It is
expected to provide flood risk ratings for Canadian locations,
ranging from “low ” to “extreme,” and considers the impacts of
climate change on the likelihood and intensity of future flood events.
Exhibit 2 —The 2 federal flood hazard mapping initiatives we examined contribute to
Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy
Topics Flood Hazard Identification and
Mapping Program
Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas
initiative
Involved
departments Lead: Natural Resources Canada
Supported by:
• Environment and Climate
Change Canada
• Public Safet y Canada Public Safet y Canada
Funding Included $64 million between 2024
and 2028 to cover 50ybRIWKHFRVW
of maps produced by provinces
and 75ybRIWKHFRVWRIPDSV
produced by territories under
cost‑sharing agreements Received $10 million from the Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping
Program, including $3.5 million for a
Canada -wide flood hazard model to
inform risk ratings
Ta r g e t s
(from Canada’s
National
Adaptation
Strategy
or public
commitments)
By 2028, the federal government,
provinces, and territories have
worked collaboratively to prioritize
at least 200 higher‑risk flood areas
for new flood hazard maps and
regional -level modelling.
By the end of 2025, communicate
flood risk ratings publicly through an
awareness portal for all of Canada.
Scope of maps Local and regional National

Flood Hazard MappingPage 4 of 31
Topics Flood Hazard Identification and
Mapping Program Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas
initiative
Scale of maps Smaller areas are depicted
in greater detail. Larger areas are depicted in less detail.
Intended users All levels of government,
regulatory authorities, the
f

lood mapping industry,
non -government organizations,
and the public People in Canada and the
federal government
United Nations’
Sustainable
D
evelopment
Goals and the
departmental
sustainable
development
strategy Identified by Natural Resources
Canada as a contribution to
Goal 13 (Climate Action) and
the corresponding goal of
its departmental sustainable
de

velopment strategy Identified by Public Safet y Canada as
a contribution to Goal 11 (Sustainable
Cities and Communities) and the
corresponding goal of its departmental
s

ustainable development strategy
Source: Based on information from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Public Safet y Canada
Roles and
responsibilities
10. Natural Resources Canada. The department is
responsible for geomatics, hazard assessment, and mapping
expertise. The department leads the Flood Hazard Identification
and Mapping Program. Under this program, the department
collaborates with provinces and territories to create and distribute
regulatory‑quality flood hazard maps .
1  It is also responsible
for allocating the funding provided to provinces and territories
for mapping projects. Natural Resources Canada works with
o
ther interested parties, such as Indigenous partners and local
authorities, to advance regional modelling science and Traditional
Knowledge science, creates tools and foundational datasets, and
provides guidance and best -practice mapping references.
1 Regulatory‑quality flood hazard maps —High -quality engineering maps that are used for regulator y planning purposes related to land use and f lood mitigation.
Take urgent action to
combat climate change
and its impacts
Source: United Nations
Make cities and human settlements
inclusive,
safe, resilient
and sustainable
Source: United Nations

Flood Hazard MappingPage 5 of 31
11. Public Safety Canada. The department is responsible for
protecting individuals and communities from hazards, such as
natural disasters. It coordinates emergency management activities
with federal, provincial, territorial, and other entities. Under the
Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, the department
is responsible for procuring a Canada -wide flood hazard model and
developing flood risk ratings through the Federally Identified Flood
Risk Areas initiative. The department is also responsible for publicly
communicating these risk ratings.
12 . Environment and Climate Change Canada. The
department is responsible for modelling and analyzing climate
change scenarios and trends, monitoring and forecasting weather,
and providing water -quantity monitoring and related data to
provinces and territories. Under the Flood Hazard Identification
and Mapping Program, the department supports Natural Resources
Canada by providing technical and scientific advice in the areas
of hydrology, hydraulics, and climate change science; providing
guidance on incorporating climate change; and reviewing
regulator y -quality flood hazard maps.
Sustainable
development
principles in Canada
13 . The Federal Sustainable Development Act and the
Auditor General Act set out several principles to guide sustainable
development decision making in Canada. Our office has grouped
them into 14 principles and created icons to symbolize them that
we consider in our environment and sustainable development
audits. The subject matter of this audit relates to:
• Principle 1—integrating environmental, economic, and social
factors in planning and decision making
• Principle 11—promoting openness and transparency
These principles and the list of all 14 sustainable development
principles are in the following figure.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 6 of 31
Sustainable development principles in Canada
Principle 1
Integrating environmental,
economic, and social factors in
planning and decision making 1 Principle 1 Integrating environmental, economic, and social factors in planning and decision making Principle 2
Protecting human
health 2 Principle 2
Protecting human health
Principle 3
Protecting ecosystems and
showing respect for nature 3 Principle 3 Protec ting ecos ystems and showing respec t for nature Principle 4
Meeting international and
domestic obligations 4 Principle 4 Meeting international and domestic obligations
Principle 5
Promoting
equity 5 Principle 5
Promoting equity Principle 6
Incorporating the polluter pays,
pollution prevention, and cost
internalization principles 6 Principle 6 Incorporating the polluter pays, pollution prevention, and cost internalization principles
Principle 7
Respecting intergenerational
equity and the needs of
future generations 7 Principle
7 Respecting intergenerational equity and the needs of future generations Principle 8
Using resources
efficiently 8 Principle 8 Using resources ef f iciently
Principle 9
Conserving cultural
heritage 9 Principle 9
Conserving cultural heritage Principle 10
Incorporating the
precautionary principle
!
10 Principle
10 Incorporating the precautionary principle
Principle 11
Promoting openness
and transparency 11 Principle 11 Promoting openness and transparency Principle 12
Affirming
Indigenous rights 12 Principle 12 Affirming Indigenous rights
Principle 13
Collaborating with interested
parties and supporting
public engagement 13 Principle 13
Collaborating with interested parties and supporting public engagement Principle 14
Developing strategies for
meeting objectives, using indicators
to report on progress, and promoting
continuous improvement 14 Principle 14 Developing strategies for meeting objec tives, using indicators to repor t on progress, and promoting continuous improvement
Principles related to this audit
Principles covered in th
is audit
Source: Adapted from the Federal Sustainable Development Ac t and the Auditor General Ac t
Focus of the audit
14 . This audit focused on whether Natural Resources Canada,
Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada
ensured the timely production of flood hazard maps that are
effective for supporting climate change adaptation and protecting
people living in Canada. Effectiveness is assessed in terms of
both the reliability and actionability of flood hazard maps. This
audit did not assess the accuracy of flood hazard maps but rather
focused on the management of organizations to support the timely

Flood Hazard MappingPage 7 of 31
production of reliable and actionable flood hazard maps in the
context of climate change. Specifically, the audit focused on the
following criteria:
• whether Natural Resources Canada ensured that
regulator y -quality flood hazard maps were produced in a timely
manner in consideration of the expected results of the Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping Program
• whether Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate
Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada ensured that
regulator y -quality local, regional, and Canada -wide flood hazard
maps were reliable and actionable to support climate change
adaptation and protect people living in Canada
15 . This audit is important because anticipating the impacts
of climate change on the likelihood and extent of flooding would
enable individuals, businesses, and governments at all levels to
better protect their existing assets and avoid catastrophic losses.
Furthermore, investments in homes and infrastructure, including
those announced in Budget 2025, could be planned and designed
with climate readiness in mind by using reliable and actionable flood
hazard information.
16 . More details about the audit objective, scope, approach, and
criteria are in
About the Audit at the end of this report.
Findings and Recommendations
Federal departments did not ensure that f lood hazard maps
were effective and readily available
Why this
finding matters
17. This finding matters because building resilience to future
floods requires information that is effective, especially in the
context of climate change. Flood hazard maps are meant to support
evidence -based decision making, and therefore to be effective, they
should be reliable and actionable. With effective information, people
living in Canada can better protect themselves, their homes, and
their assets, and the federal government can better prioritize future
investments in infrastructure and implement strategies to address
the impacts of flooding.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 8 of 31
18 . Integrating climate change considerations into flood hazard
information allows land -use planners, other levels of government,
and private sector authorities to make informed choices about
strategic development and effective investment prioritization. For
example, 2 municipalities used flood information that accounted for
climate change to assess local impacts:
• In 2022, the Region of Durham, Ontario, conducted a flood risk
assessment using existing flood hazard maps and models along
with climate change scenarios. This assessment gave regional
decision makers critical information to aid in reviewing and
prioritizing future transportation infrastructure investments.
• In 2019, the City of Surrey, British Columbia, created a coastal
flood adaptation strategy that identified the current and
potential impacts of climate change on Surrey ’s large coastal
floodplain area. Flood mapping data helped the city to develop
a long -term strategy to reduce climate change–driven coastal
flooding risks.
Source: From the Cit y of Surrey ’s Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy, used with permission
Context
19. Flood hazard maps are used for decisions such as where to
build homes and infrastructure. These maps can be developed to
reflect current and/or projected future conditions. In the context
of this audit, we considered maps to be “reliable” if they were up
to date and completed with the best available information, such as
land -use and climate -change data. While including climate change
introduces more uncertainty, there currently are science -backed
tools and methodologies available that include climate change.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 9 of 31
20. The federal government committed to prioritizing mapping
areas at higher risk of flooding. It also committed to making Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping Program information easy to find
and use. Anyone living in Canada should have access to flood hazard
maps in formats that meet accessibility standards.
21. The federal government also planned to release flood risk
ratings through a flood risk awareness portal by the end of 2025.
The portal is meant to provide information, data, and maps to raise
awareness and enable evidence -based decision making to build
resilience to floods.
Public Safety Canada did not incorporate climate change considerations in
its f lood risk awareness portal
Findings
22. We found that Public Safety Canada had not incorporated
climate change considerations in the Canada -wide flood risk ratings.
In the department ’s view, there was a high level of uncertainty
associated with climate -impacted flood estimation. The risk ratings
to be displayed in the forthcoming flood risk awareness portal
online were based on present -day assumptions related to flooding.
This means that information in the portal would not be useful to
help the public make long -term climate -informed decisions or
investment choices that account for flood risks. The department
acknowledged this fact and intended to investigate adding climate
change considerations as scientific methodologies develop.
23. We found that to generate the risk ratings in a short time
frame, Public Safety Canada procured a proprietar y model from
a private sector organization through a competitive process.
The department compared the model’s results to available
regulator y -quality flood hazard maps to determine the model’s
strengths and weaknesses. The department acknowledged that
procuring a proprietar y model—as opposed to an open -source
model—restricted full transparency regarding the model’s
protected inputs and outputs. Furthermore, this approach limited
the department ’s ability to optimally reflect local conditions
across the countr y. Promoting openness and transparency is a
sustainable development principle, and disclosing assumptions,
data, and methodology helps users to better understand the results
and limitations of the flood hazard information and use it more
effectively. The department stated that it initiated work to develop
a Canada -specific open -source flood hazard model.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 10 of 31
Recommendation
24. To provide scientifically reliable information to support
climate change adaptation, Public Safety Canada should take
concrete steps to:
• implement a Canada -wide flood hazard model that provides
greater transparency regarding assumptions and data, and
enable model adjustments
• incorporate climate change considerations in the
Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas input into the flood risk
awareness portal, in accordance with recognized scientific
best practices
Public Safety Canada’s response. Agreed.
See Recommendations and Responses at the end of this report for
detailed responses.
Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s
approach to review the alignment of f lood mapping projects with technical
mapping requirements had gaps
Findings
25. Natural Resources Canada, supported by Environment and
Climate Change Canada, committed to reviewing flood mapping
projects. This review aimed to ensure alignment with relevant flood
mapping guidelines and technical requirements as incorporated
in the funding agreements throughout the stages of map
development. However, we found that Natural Resources Canada
and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s review of funded
flood mapping projects was inconsistent. While the reviews of
projects in 4 provinces and 1 territor y followed a detailed checklist
to ensure that technical requirements, including climate change
considerations, were met and documented, this process was not
consistently applied in the other provinces and territories.
26. In November 2025, Natural Resources Canada enhanced
the approach to review the alignment with technical mapping
requirements, which addressed the gaps that we had noted. The
department—with input from Environment and Climate Change
Canada—implemented a detailed, standardized review checklist
for all provinces and territories to document alignment with
requirements and ensure the final reliability of flood hazard maps
and information.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 11 of 31
Recommendation
2 7. To ensure the ongoing reliability of flood hazard maps and
federal guidelines to support climate change adaptation, Natural
Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada
should regularly review and update their approach to verif y that
all maps follow appropriate technical requirements, including
up -to -date scientific information related to climate change impacts.
Response of each organization. Agreed.
See Recommendations and Responses at the end of this report for
detailed responses.
Public Safety Canada and Natural Resources Canada made limited
actionable f lood hazard information publicly available
Findings
28. We found that by the end of our audit period, Public Safety
Canada had not yet launched the flood risk awareness portal.
However, we examined a prototype of the portal and found that
its intended functionalities were designed to provide centralized,
Canada -wide flood risk information in plain language and with
interactive features.
29. We found that Natural Resources Canada had not ensured
that regulator y -quality flood hazard maps were actionable once
completed. To be actionable, flood hazard information, data,
and maps should be complete and easy to find and to use; they
should also be adapted to the local context and intended use, with
sufficient detail on flood hazards to enable action by individuals
and communities.
30. The Canada Flood Map Inventor y provides a centralized
listing of flood hazard maps collected by Natural Resources Canada
from provinces, territories, and other organizations and was
intended as a central access point for these maps. We found that
the inventor y did not allow for an easy and intuitive user navigation
experience. During the audit period, no flood hazard map could be
directly viewed or downloaded from the inventor y itself. Instead, as
the inventor y did not host the maps, it redirected users to provincial
and territorial websites. However, these maps were sometimes
improperly linked, and provinces and territories had differing
systems and practices to share flood mapping information.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 12 of 31
31. We found that the department had not made all the
completed maps available online through the Canada Flood Map
Inventor y. We found that there were 26 regulator y‑quality flood
hazard mapping projects completed under the current stage of the
Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (2024–2028). Of
those, only 11 were made publicly available through the inventor y.
The department indicated that the publication of flood hazard maps
involved many steps and that it released them only twice a year.
Given the small number of mapping projects published under the
current stage of the program, we also examined the publication
status and actionability of the 51 mapping projects completed
during the previous stage (2021–2024) for additional insight. We
found that 43ybRIWKHPbRXWRIbZHUHVWLOOQRWDFWLRQDEOHDWWKH
end of 2025—that is, they were not publicly available, not listed, or
not properly linked in the inventor y ( Exhibit 3 ).
Exhibit 3 —The mapping projects completed under the previous stage of the Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (2021–2024) were not actionable because of
their limited availability

Source: Based on our analysis of information provided by Natural Resources Canada and our review of the publicly available information at the end of the audit period (December 31, 2025)
Read the Exhibit 3 text description
51
completed
35
publicly
available
29
listed on the inventory
and properly linked
6
not listed on the inventory
or improperly linked
16
not publicly available

Flood Hazard MappingPage 13 of 31
Recommendation
32. To ensure that federally funded flood hazard information is
actionable by the intended users, Natural Resources Canada should:
• collaborate with provinces and territories to implement concrete
actions so that flood hazard maps are made available to people
in Canada in a timely manner
• use interactive features to allow the intended users to easily
locate, understand, and use flood hazard information
Natural Resources Canada’s response. Agreed.
See Recommendations and Responses at the end of this report for
detailed responses.
Natural Resources Canada did not ensure timely production
of f lood hazard maps
Why this
finding matters
33. This finding matters because any delays in the publication
of reliable and actionable flood hazard maps expose individuals and
communities to increasing risks of negative health, financial, and
environmental impacts. The fact that these delays could occur could
also put investments in housing, infrastructure, and other physical
assets at risk, including the $140 billion planned to be invested by
the federal government as detailed in Budget 2025.
Context
34. As part of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, the
government established a 2028 target of collaborating with
provinces and territories to prioritize at least 200 higher‑risk flood
areas for new flood hazard maps and regional -level modelling and
to have taken evidence -based risk mitigation actions in accordance
with scientific guidance.
35. Without pre -existing data, a regulator y -quality flood hazard
map can take several years to produce. Producing a new map
involves many steps, such as sur veying the area, acquiring data,
and creating models and projections.

Flood Hazard Mapping
Page 14 of 31
Natural Resources Canada did not track whether funding was directed to
maps for areas identified in the 2022 prioritization exercise
Findings
36. We found that Natural Resources Canada conducted a
Canada‑wide flood map prioritization exercise in 2022 to identif y
higher -risk areas. This analysis considered elements of gender -based
analysis plus to identif y the needs of populations most vulnerable
to flooding, such as Indigenous people and low -income people. The
department then developed an initial list of prioritized areas, which
it shared with most provinces and territories to help select flood
hazard mapping projects for funding.
37. We found that Natural Resources Canada did not track whether
the flood hazard maps it funded covered the areas identified in
the 2022 prioritization exercise. A key national adaptation strategy
target and objective of the funding agreements was prioritizing
higher -risk flood areas for mapping. Provinces and territories
are responsible for leading flood mapping projects, and Natural
Resources Canada selects the flood mapping projects that it funds
through committees with the provinces and territories. Although
the department was involved in project selection and although
selected projects are intended to align with high -risk areas, Natural
Resources Canada did not monitor whether the projects covered the
areas identified in 2022. The department told us that it viewed the
list of prioritized areas only as a preliminar y decision -making tool. In
addition, we found that the department had not updated this initial
prioritization list.
38. We expected Natural Resources Canada to closely track
whether the funds disbursed for higher -risk flood hazard mapping
projects were benefitting populations vulnerable to flooding. This
approach aligns with the principle of sustainable development of
integrating environmental, economic, and social factors in planning
and decision making. We compared the higher -risk areas identified
in 2022 against the flood hazard mapping projects underway and
found only a 49ybbRXWRIbRYHUODSEHWZHHQWKHbb( Exhibit 4 ).

Flood Hazard MappingPage 15 of 31
Exhibit 4 —Flood hazard mapping projects underway had a low overlap with the higher‑risk
areas identified in the 2022 prioritization exercise
Source: Based on our analysis of Natural Resources Canada’s data at the end of the audit period (December 31, 2025). The overlap was calculated using a buf fer zone of 8.3 kilometres.
Read the Exhibit 4 text description
Recommendation
39. To protect individuals most vulnerable to flooding and
to help mitigate the increasing cost of flood relief in the context
of climate change, Natural Resources Canada should work
collaboratively with provinces and territories to update its list of
higher -risk areas and monitor coverage of those areas to inform
funding decisions.
Natural Resources Canada’s response. Agreed.
See Recommendations and Responses at the end of this report for
detailed responses.
384

Areas
identified as higher-risk
Only 49% of
mapping projects
underway are aligned
with areas identified
as higher-risk
All areas
to be mapped
131
Underway

Flood Hazard MappingPage 16 of 31
Natural Resources Canada was not on track to publish all funded f lood
mapping projects by March 2028
Findings
40. We found that the 2028 flood map–related target under
Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy was not supported by
a clear definition of an “area.” In other documents, instead of
focusing on “high -risk areas,” Natural Resources Canada aimed
to cover more than 200 communities with either flood hazard
mapping or regional‑level modelling by 2028. There was no clear
specific alignment between the higher -risk areas initially identified
as priorities in 2022 and the areas or communities referred to in
the loosely defined targets of the Flood Hazard Identification and
Mapping Program.
41. Moreover, we found no performance indicator that
addressed the second part of the 2028 target as stated in
Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, which is to “have taken
evidence -based risk mitigation actions in accordance with scientific
guidance.” In our view, the department ’s ability to meaningfully
report on the program’s success, given its intended outcome,
was significantly limited by both an unclear definition of an “area”
associated with the target of 200 and the absence of an indicator for
the mitigation actions. This finding is consistent with the findings
in our  2025 audit report on the national adaptation strategy , which
also noted a significant deficiency in the strategy ’s framework for
monitoring and evaluation.
42. We found that, on the basis of past program performance
(Exhibit 3 ) and the current rate of deliver y of flood mapping projects,
Natural Resources Canada was not on track to publish all funded
flood mapping projects by March 2028. Of the 131 projects initiated
so far, only 26 had been completed ( Exhibit 5 ).

Flood Hazard MappingPage 17 of 31
Exhibit 5 —Natural Resources Canada was not on track to publish all flood mapping projects
by March 2028
Source: Based on our analysis of information provided by Natural Resources Canada and our review of the publicly available information at the end of the audit period (December 31, 2025)
Read the Exhibit 5 text description
43. We found that Natural Resources Canada reallocated
unspent funds from one provincial or territorial jurisdiction to
another so that they could spend those funds in a timely manner
with the aim of increasing the number of mapping projects
underway and completed. However, even with the reallocation
of funds, we found that for the current fiscal year (2025–26), the
department had $16.1 million of unspent planned expenses at the
end of the audit period (the end of the third quarter). Although
most of the spending can take place at the end of the fiscal year
(the fourth quarter), there is a considerable amount to be spent
in 2025–26 (
Exhibit 6 ). Annual spending by the department is
an indicator of a consistent production of flood hazard maps.
Under -expending budget allocations on flood hazard maps
represents a missed opportunity to deliver additional value and
achieve further program objectives.
105 + ?
completed
by March 31, 2028
?
26
completed
131
underway as of
December 31, 2025
11
published
15
not published
Additional flood
mapping projects
(Number unknown)

Flood Hazard MappingPage 18 of 31
Exhibit 6 —An opportunity was missed with under‑expended budget allocations
Source: Based on our analysis of information provided by Natural Resources Canada at the end of the audit period (December 31, 2025)
Read the Exhibit 6 text description
Recommendation
44. To ensure effective program management and demonstrate
value, Natural Resources Canada should improve its oversight of the
Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program deliverables and
timelines with performance management indicators that are SMART
(specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time -bound) and
aligned with the program’s various intended short – and longer -term
outcomes in the context of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.
Natural Resources Canada’s response. Agreed.
See Recommendations and Responses at the end of this report for
detailed responses.
2024–252025–26
Fiscal year
Natural Resources Canada spending
(in millions)
$3.3 million
$9.9 million
$3.8 million
$16.1
million
Quarter 4 spending: unknown
Unspent allocation: unknown
$16.1
million
Quarter 4
spending: unknown
Unspent
allocation: unknown
$3.9 million
$17 million $20
million
Quarter 1 to Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Unspent allocation
0
5
10
15
20

Flood Hazard MappingPage 19 of 31
Conclusion
45. We concluded that Natural Resources Canada, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada did not
ensure the timely production of flood hazard maps that are effective
for supporting climate change adaptation and protecting people
living in Canada.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 20 of 31
A bout the Audit
This independent assurance report was prepared by the Office of the Auditor General
of Canada on flood hazard mapping. Our responsibility was to provide objective information,
advice, and assurance to assist Parliament in its scrutiny of the government ’s management
of resources and programs and to conclude on whether flood hazard mapping complied in all
significant respects with the applicable criteria.
All work in this audit was performed to a reasonable level of assurance in accordance with
the Canadian Standard on Assurance Engagements (CSAE) 3001—Direct Engagements, set
out by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) in the CPA Canada
Handbook—Assurance.
The Office of the Auditor General of Canada applies the Canadian Standard on Quality
Management 1—Quality Management for Firms That Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial
Statements, or Other Assurance or Related Ser vices Engagements. This standard requires our
office to design, implement, and operate a system of quality management, including policies
or procedures regarding compliance with ethical requirements, professional standards, and
applicable legal and regulator y requirements.
In conducting the audit work, we complied with the independence and other ethical
requirements of the relevant rules of professional conduct applicable to the practice of public
accounting in Canada, which are founded on fundamental principles of integrity, objectivity,
professional competence and due care, confidentiality, and professional behaviour.
In accordance with our regular audit process, we obtained the following from
entity management:
• confirmation of management’s responsibility for the subject under audit
• acknowledgement of the suitability of the criteria used in the audit
• confirmation that all known information that has been requested, or that could affect the
findings or audit conclusion, has been provided
• confirmation that the audit report is factually accurate
Audit objective
The objective of this audit was to determine whether Natural Resources Canada, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada ensured the timely production of flood
hazard maps that are effective for supporting climate change adaptation and protecting
people living in Canada.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 21 of 31
Scope and approach
This audit was on the performance of Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate
Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada in ensuring that people living in Canada have
access to flood hazard maps that are expected to be timely produced and effective. We have
defined the timely production and effectiveness as follows:
• Timely production: A detailed regulatory -quality flood hazard map can take time to
complete, sometimes up to 3 years. We expected the timely production of these maps
from inception of the program on that basis, at pace and in consideration of the expected
results of the program, which is scheduled to end in 2028.
• Effective: Local, regional, and national flood hazard maps are meant to support
evidence -based decision making to support climate change adaptation, protect people
living in Canada and their communities, and increase their resilience to floods. To be
effective, flood hazard maps should be reliable and actionable as defined below:
• Reliable: To be reliable, flood hazard maps, information, and data must meet
federal, provincial, and territorial requirements. They should be completed
by covering the areas at highest risk of flooding where the most vulnerable
communities live and be up to date with the best available information, including
land -use and climate -change information.
• Actionable: To be actionable, flood hazard information, data, and maps should
be complete and easy to find and use; they should also be adapted to the local
context and intended use, with sufficient detail on flood hazards to enable action
by individuals and communities, especially for areas where vulnerable populations
at highest risk of flooding live.
To assess whether Natural Resources Canada ensured that regulator y -quality (engineering)
flood hazard maps were produced in a timely manner in consideration of the expected
program results, we examined the activities leading to the timely production of flood
hazard maps.
We looked at the provision of support and resources by Natural Resources Canada and federal
partners that may have impacted the deliver y of projects. We examined current and planned
expenditures against the dedicated budget and internal processes, including procurement,
administration, and unanticipated delays related to information technology.
We undertook data analysis of Natural Resources Canada’s database of flood mapping
projects to determine the accuracy of amounts of line items that the department has been
invoiced. The database included 1,167 individual line items for flood hazard mapping projects
and activities. The team confirmed the accuracy of the database by using a representative
sampling of 49 line items in the database sufficient for a confidence level of at least 90ybWKDW
the error rate in the population was no greater than 10yb7KHWHDPFRPSDUHGWKHOLQHLWHPV
with the invoices provided by the provinces and territories.
We also assessed whether Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change
Canada, and Public Safety Canada ensured that the local (engineering), regional, and
Canada‑wide flood hazard maps produced under the Flood Hazard Identification and
Mapping Program and data from the Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas initiative were

Flood Hazard MappingPage 22 of 31
effective at enabling decision making for land -use planning and resilience building in
higher -risk areas and across Canada. More specifically, we assessed whether the federal
departments ensured that flood hazard maps and data were reliable and actionable, in
consideration of the expected timelines (see definitions above).
In terms of approach, we:
• analyzed documents, information contained in databases, and other information sources
• interviewed responsible officials and examined processes that were followed
• interviewed interested parties and industry experts
• considered international best practices
We did not examine:
• emergency preparedness and emergency management
• the development of the national flood insurance program
• flood mapping activities led by Indigenous Services Canada and Crown -Indigenous
Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, as these activities are undertaken under different
programs with different objectives
• the decisions for selecting mapping projects to be funded by Natural Resources Canada,
as project selection is made jointly with provinces and territories

Flood Hazard MappingPage 23 of 31
Criteria
We used the following criteria to conclude against our audit objective:
Criteria Sources
Natural Resources Canada ensured that
engineering flood hazard maps were
produced in a timely manner in consideration
of the results expected from the Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.
• Treasur y Board submissions
• Resources and Technical Sur veys Act
• Department of Natural Resources Act
• Minister of Natural Resources Mandate
L e t t e r, 2 0 2 1
• Government of Canada Adaptation Action
Plan, 2024
• 2024 –25 Departmental Plan: Horizontal
Initiatives, Environment and Climate
Change Canada
• Policy on Results, Treasur y Board
• Directive on Results, Treasur y Board
• Guide to Departments on the Management
and Reporting of Horizontal Initiatives,
Treasur y Board of Canada Secretariat, 2018
• Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, United Nations
• Federal Sustainable Development Act
• 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable
Development Strategy, Environment and
Climate Change Canada
• Directive on the Management of
Procurement, Treasur y Board
• Policy on Transfer Payments, Treasur y Board
• Directive on Transfer Payments,
Treasur y Board
• Guideline on Performance Measurement
Strategy Under the Policy on Transfer
Payments, Treasur y Board of
Canada Secretariat

Flood Hazard Mapping
Page 24 of 31
Criteria Sources
Natural Resources Canada, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, and Public
Safet y Canada ensured that the engineering,
regional, and Canada -wide flood hazard maps
produced under the Flood Hazard Identification
and Mapping Program and data from
the Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas
are reliable.
Public Safet y Canada, Natural Resources
Canada, and Environment and Climate
Change Canada ensured that the engineering,
regional, and Canada -wide flood hazard maps
produced under the Flood Hazard Identification
and Mapping Program and data from
the Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas
are actionable.
• Treasur y Board submissions
• Resources and Technical Sur veys Act
• Department of Natural Resources Act
• Department of the Environment Act
• Emergency Management Act
• Department of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Act
• Government of Canada Adaptation Action
Plan, 2024
• 2024 –25 Departmental Plan: Horizontal
Initiatives, Environment and Climate
Change Canada
• Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, United Nations
• Federal Sustainable Development Act
• 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable
Development Strategy, Environment and
Climate Change Canada
• 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable
Development Strategy Report, Natural
Resources Canada
• 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable
Development Strategy Report, Public
Safet y Canada
• Federal Flood Mapping Framework:
Version 2.0, Natural Resources Canada, 2018
• Federal Hydrologic and Hydraulic Procedures
for Flood Hazard Delineation: Version 2.0,
Natural Resources Canada, 2023
• Case Studies on Climate Change in Floodplain
Mapping, Natural Resources Canada
• Policy on Results, Treasur y Board
• Directive on Results, Treasur y Board
• Policy on Transfer Payments, Treasur y Board
• Directive on Transfer Payments,
Treasur y Board
• Guideline on Performance Measurement
Strategy Under the Policy on Transfer
Payments, Treasur y Board of
Canada Secretariat

Flood Hazard MappingPage 25 of 31
Period covered by the audit
The audit covered the period from November 1, 2022, to December 31, 2025. This is the period
to which the audit conclusion applies. However, to gain a more complete understanding of the
subject matter of the audit, we also examined certain matters that preceded the start date of
this period.
Date of the report
We obtained sufficient and appropriate audit evidence on which to base our conclusion on
April 9, 2026, in Ottawa, Canada.
Audit team
This audit was completed by a multidisciplinar y team from across the Office of the Auditor
General of Canada led by Susie Fortier, Principal. The principal has overall responsibility for
audit quality, including conducting the audit in accordance with professional standards,
applicable legal and regulator y requirements, and the office’s policies and system of
quality management.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 26 of 31
Recommendations and Responses
Responses appear as they were received by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
In the following table, the paragraph number preceding the recommendation indicates the
location of the recommendation in the report.
Recommendation Response
24. To provide scientifically reliable information
to support climate change adaptation, Public
Safet y Canada should take concrete steps to:
• implement a Canada -wide flood hazard
model that provides greater transparency
regarding assumptions and data, and enable
model adjustments
• incorporate climate change considerations
in the Federally Identified Flood Risk Areas
input into the flood risk awareness portal,
in accordance with recognized scientific
best practices
Public Safety Canada’s response. Agreed.
Public Safet y Canada (PS) agrees that a model
that provides greater transparency and enables
adjustments is needed.
In 2024, PS initiated a multi ‑disciplinar y,
multi -year project (the Open-Source Flood Risk
Analysis Network for Canada) in collaboration
with an academic consortium of universities
across Canada through a National Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada grant.
The project includes government scientists and
academic researchers, including postdoctoral
fellows and stakeholders, with quarterly project
status meetings, interim milestones, and
deliverables released throughout the project.
The academic consortium will complete a
first-of-its-kind Canada-wide flood model, with
key milestones for 2026 to include deploying
local models at pilot sites and updated climate
simulations. 2026 deliverables will also include
addressing critical data and modeling gaps.
This project is designed to provide strong
value for money, and to align with the OAG’s
recommendations by offering a transparent,
reusable public asset. The project benefits
from strong project management, governance,
and oversight, and leverages an aggressive
but realistic timeline to deliver results. When
climate change information at the Canada -wide
scale reaches a technical robustness, it will
be integrated into the FIFR A datasets and
subsequently the Portal.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 27 of 31
Recommendation Response
2 7. To ensure the ongoing reliabilit y of flood
hazard maps and federal guidelines to support
climate change adaptation, Natural Resources
Canada and Environment and Climate Change
Canada should regularly review and update
their approach to verif y that all maps follow
appropriate technical requirements, including
up -to-date scientific information related to
climate change impacts.
Natural Resources Canada’s response.
Agreed. To maintain continued reliability,
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will conduct
a formal annual review of its approaches and
update as required. NRCan will continue to
review its rigorous deliverable review approach
and maintain regular committee meetings with
provincial/territorial partners to review projects
outlined under agreements with partners
that specif y that all flood hazard maps follow
appropriate technical requirements—including
climate change impact considerations.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s
response. Agreed. Environment and Climate
Change Canada will continue to review and
update its approaches as needed to verif y
that all maps produced in all phases of the
Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping
Program (FHIMP) follow appropriate technical
requirements, including up-to-date scientific
information related to climate change impacts.
This includes review of existing templates
for documentation of engineering technical
reviews. Checklists on the templates will be
reviewed yearly and, as needed, updated to
ensure the FHIMP requirements and best
practices in flood hazard mapping are captured
in the documentation.
ECCC will also continue to develop and update
guidance and best practices for hydrology,
hydraulics, climate change science and
uncertainty.
Expected implementation date: March 31, 2028
32. To ensure that federally funded
flood hazard information is actionable by
the intended users, Natural Resources
Canada should:
• collaborate with provinces and territories
to implement concrete actions so that flood
hazard maps are made available to people in
Canada in a timely manner
• use interactive features to allow the intended
users to easily locate, understand, and use
flood hazard information
Natural Resources Canada’s response.
Agreed. Natural Resources Canada will continue
to collaborate with provinces and territories
to publish flood hazard information in a timely
manner, linking to respective jurisdiction’s
webpages or flood hazard studies.
Natural Resources Canada will enhance the
usabilit y of its flood mapping webpages,
including upgrading the address -based search
tool. In addition, Natural Resources Canada
will undergo an assessment in 2026–27 to
improve accessibilit y of its Canada Flood Map
Inventor y platform and revise content across
flood -mapping webpages to better support
users.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 28 of 31
Recommendation Response
39. To protect individuals most vulnerable to
flooding and to help mitigate the increasing
cost of flood relief in the context of climate
change, Natural Resources Canada should work
collaboratively with provinces and territories
to update its list of higher -risk areas and
monitor coverage of those areas to inform
funding decisions.
Natural Resources Canada’s response.
Agreed. Natural Resources Canada will
collaborate with provinces and territories to
update its project list quarterly and set project
priorities that can increase the resiliency of
Canadians in the face of the rising frequency
and costs of flood events.
44. To ensure ef fective program management
and demonstrate value, Natural Resources
Canada should improve its oversight of the
Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping
Program deliverables and timelines with
performance management indicators that
are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant, and time -bound) and aligned with
the program’s various intended short – and
longer -term outcomes in the context of
Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.
Natural Resources Canada’s response.
Agreed. Natural Resources Canada will review
and improve its existing performance indicators
before the end of 2026-27 to ef fectively report
on Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping
Program deliverables and outcomes in the
context of the National Adaptation Strategy.

Flood Hazard MappingPage 29 of 31
Appendix—Text Descriptions of Exhibits
Here are the text descriptions of the exhibits.
Exhibit 1 —The cost of the federal government ’s post-flood relief is rising—Text description
This chart shows the federal government Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements payments
from 1971 to 2025. The payments were adjusted for inflation using 2025 dollars and grouped
into 5 ‑year increments.
The Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements payments were as follows:
• Payments for 1971 to 1975 were $153 million.
• Payments for 1976 to 1980 increased to $202 million.
• Payments for 1981 to 1985 decreased to $44 million.
• Payments for 1986 to 1990 increased to $75 million.
• Payments for 1991 to 1995 decreased to $62 million.
• Payments for 1996 to 2000 increased to $668 million.
• Payments for 2001 to 2005 decreased to $365 million.
• Payments for 2006 to 2010 decreased to $286 million.
• Payments for 2011 to 2015 increased to $1,751 million.
• Payments for 2016 to 2020 decreased to $632 million.
• Payments for 2021 to 2025 increased to $1,731 million.
Note: Adjusted using the Inflation Calculator (Bank of Canada) to November 2025. Data are
based on the payment year. Payments may occur many years after flood events.
Source: Based on information from Public Safety Canada
Back to Exhibit 1

Flood Hazard MappingPage 30 of 31
Exhibit 3 —The mapping projects completed under the previous stage of the Flood
Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (2021–2024) were not actionable because of their
limited availability—Text description
This chart shows the number of mapping projects completed under the previous stage of the
Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.
In total, 51 mapping projects were completed.
Of these, 35 were publicly available, and 16 were not publicly available.
Of the ones that were publicly available, 29 were listed on the inventor y and properly linked,
and 6 were not listed on the inventor y or improperly linked.
Source: Based on our analysis of information provided by Natural Resources Canada and our
review of the publicly available information at the end of the audit period (December 31, 2025)
Back to Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4 —Flood hazard mapping projects underway had a low overlap with the higher-risk
areas identified in the 2022 prioritization exercise—Text description
This Venn diagram shows the overlap of mapping projects underway and areas identified as
higher risk within the larger field of all areas to be mapped.
Of all of the areas to be mapped, 384 areas were identified as higher ‑risk areas in
the 2022 prioritization exercise. There are 131 mapping projects underway. This means that
only 49ybRIPDSSLQJSURMHFWVDUHDOLJQHGZLWKDUHDVLGHQWLILHGDVKLJKHr ‑risk.
Source: Based on our analysis of Natural Resources Canada’s data at the end of the audit period
(December 31, 2025). The overlap was calculated using a buffer zone of 8.3 kilometres.
Back to Exhibit 4
Exhibit 5 —Natural Resources Canada was not on track to publish all flood mapping projects
by March 2028—Text description
This chart shows the completion and publication states of flood mapping projects.
As of December 31, 2025, 131 mapping projects were underway.
Of these, 26 were completed.
Of the completed projects, 11 were published, and 15 were not published.
That means that 105 projects need to be completed by March 31, 2028. An unknown number of
additional flood mapping projects may be completed.
Source: Based on our analysis of information provided by Natural Resources Canada and our
review of the publicly available information at the end of the audit period (December 31, 2025)
Back to Exhibit 5

Flood Hazard MappingPage 31 of 31
Exhibit 6 —An opportunity was missed with under-expended budget allocations—Text
description
This chart shows Natural Resources Canada’s budget allocations and spending in 2024–25
and 2025–26.
In the 2024–25 fiscal year, a total of $17 million was allocated:
• $3.8 million was spent in quarter 1 to quarter 3.
• $9.9 million was spent in quarter 4.
• $3.3 million was unspent.
In the 2025–26 fiscal year, a total of $20 million was allocated:
• $3.9 million was spent in quarter 1 to quarter 3.
• $16.1 million remained in quarter 4. The spending in quarter 4 was unknown, and the
spending allocation was unknown.
Source: Based on our analysis of information provided by Natural Resources Canada at the end
of the audit period (December 31, 2025)
Back to Exhibit 6