Ottawa’s Silence on Flooding Draws Fire from Abbotsford Mayor

 

                            A car crosses a flooded street in Abbotsford B.C., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. 

Mayor Ross Siemens has sharply criticized the federal government for what he calls “inaction” in addressing repeated flooding that has devastated his community. Speaking at the city’s Emergency Operations Centre, Siemens expressed frustration that Ottawa has not stepped up with the funding or support needed to mitigate cross-border flooding from Washington’s Nooksack River.

The latest floods forced hundreds of households to evacuate, inundated poultry barns, and left farmers scrambling to protect livestock. Siemens noted that while lessons from the catastrophic 2021 floods have helped the city prepare, Abbotsford remains vulnerable without federal intervention. “To put my city residents at risk once again, needlessly, because of inaction is frustrating,” Siemens said.

Farmers in the Fraser Valley are already facing significant losses. One dairy farmer reported that a dike burst near his property, releasing six feet of water in just hours. While community members have rallied to support one another, Siemens emphasized that local resilience cannot replace national responsibility.

The mayor is calling for urgent federal funding and international cooperation to address the recurring flood threat, urging Ottawa and Washington state authorities to make flood mitigation part of a formal treaty. As waters begin to recede, Siemens warned that without decisive action, Abbotsford will continue to face repeated crises that jeopardize lives, livelihoods, and food security.