Date: May 2, 2000

Tomorrow, the House of Commons Finance Committee will hold a special meeting to discuss IBC’s proposed natural disaster reduction plan. This is a major advance in the industry’s lobby to secure public investments in disaster loss reducing infrastructure. George Anderson will lead off the discussion with a presentation of the IBC proposal (his speaking notes are attached). Other presentations will be made by Emergency Preparedness Canada, the engineering community, earthquake and environmental scientists and municipal officials. We anticipate that everyone will impress upon Committee members the importance of investing in loss reduction to save public resources that would be required for emergency response in the future.

It is extraordinary for a federal standing Committee, with support from all other parties, to devote such concentrated attention to a non-government initiative. This marks the growing awareness of the need to act now to reduce natural disaster losses in the future and reflects positively on the standing of IBC with federal politicians.

George Anderson
President & CEO