Turning the Tide

The document examines how flood risk transparency practices in Canada often disadvantage equity-deserving groups, who are more likely to live in flood-prone areas and have less access to risk information. It identifies gaps in flood risk mapping, such as outdated data and a lack of climate change integration, and notes inconsistencies in real-estate and rental disclosure requirements. The brief warns that rising insurance premiums, driven largely by flood damage, and fluctuating property values can trap vulnerable populations in high-risk areas. To mitigate these inequities, the author recommends the co-development of mapping programs with diverse stakeholders, increased public accessibility of data, and the standardization of disclosure guidelines for both buyers and renters.

• Flood risk mapping in Canada is often inadequate, with maps being unavailable in areas where equity-deserving groups are overrepresented or being "25 years or more out of date". While the federal government's Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program aims to update maps nationwide, there is no evidence that these updates will account for climate change impacts.
• Current flood risk disclosure mechanisms are inconsistent and incomplete. Property Disclosure Statements vary by jurisdiction, and landlords in Canada are not required to disclose hazard or risk information during rental transactions, which disproportionately affects equity-deserving communities who are more likely to rent.
• Flood risk pricing is increasing costs for vulnerable populations; home insurance premiums in Canada rose by 20 to 25 per cent between 2015-2019, with over half of that increase caused by flood damage. This pricing can lead to a cycle where equity-deserving groups are trapped in higher-risk neighbourhoods due to the relative cost of housing.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2024). Turning the Tide. https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/turning-the-tide/

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Turning the Tide. 2024. https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/turning-the-tide/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Turning the Tide |date=3 January 2024 |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/turning-the-tide/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2024turning, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Turning the Tide}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/turning-the-tide/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }