On October 23, 2023, ICLR hosted a Friday Forum webinar titled 'Modernizing Canada's Disaster Financial Agreement Arrangement', led by Becky Denlinger, Matthew Godsoe and Veronica Scotti.
In April 2023 the Government of Canada received the Building Forward Together: Toward a more Resilient Canada report from an independent expert advisory panel tasked with reviewing the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program. The Government of Canada will use the recommendations and considerations to inform the review of the federal approach to disaster financial assistance. The 2023 budget includes $48 billion over five years to incentivize flood mitigation in high-risk areas, $15 million for an online information portal, $32 million for a low-cost flood insurance program, and $64 million over three years for flood hazard mapping. Two advisory panel members and a Public Safety Canada senior staffer who helped to manage the effort will discuss the report’s recommendations and progress made to review and modernize the DFAA. Becky Denlinger is a former firefighter serving on the Board of Directors of Oceans Networks Canada and as a visiting fellow at the Western University. Becky has held several positions in the BC government including deputy minister and fire commissioner and has been active in numerous emergency-management and fire-service committees. Veronica Scotti is an expert in economics, finance, and international commerce, currently serving as chairperson for Public Sector Solutions for Swiss Re Group. She has held appointments in the Bretton Woods Committee Advisory Council, World Economic Forum CEO Action Group for the European Union Green Deal, and ICLR’s board of directors, among others. Dr. Matthew Godsoe is an expert on disaster resilience policy, currently serving as director of the Resilience and Economics Integration Division at Public Safety Canada. He is former technical rescue instructor, search and rescue volunteer and wilderness guide.
