Image: A car crosses a flooded street in Abbotsford B.C., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns ETHAN CAIRNS

By Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press / Alyssa Conti

FEDERAL INACTION

Abbotsford mayor blasts feds for flooding ‘inaction’ as water starts receding

Dec 12, 2025 | 11:39 AM

Update 4:45 P.M.: The federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Eleanor Olszewski, has asked to meet with Mayor Siemens shortly after the news conference.

“Mayor Siemens reiterated his frustration and concern for timely support and the urgent long-term flood mitigation needs of our community and asked that they actively work with the Province of BC to address the flooding risks impacting Abbotsford,” wrote the City.

“He also asked that they start to participate and play an active role at the leadership table for the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Plan working group as this work has national and international impact.”

Olszewski then responded with potential grant opportunities for the City’s consideration in the future.

The original story follows:

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ABBOTSFORD — The mayor of flood-struck Abbotsford says he is “disappointed and frustrated” with the federal government over “inaction” on cross-border flooding that has repeatedly inundated his city.

“I think we can all agree that on this point that enough is enough,” said Siemens. “We don’t need empty promises from the federal government that they have our back. […] I’m profoundly disappointed.”

Ross Siemens says he has not been contacted by the federal government about this week’s flooding that has forced hundreds of households to evacuate, while inundating poultry barns and forcing livestock relocations.

Siemens told a news briefing that he’s pleading for flood mitigation to be addressed, and authorities across the border in Washington state also need to “wake up” and for the issue to be part of an international treaty, similar to the Columbia River Treaty east of the state.

David Campbell with the B.C. River Forecast Centre says floodwaters that poured across the border from the flooded Nooksack River in Washington have started to recede.

But he says the process of draining the Sumas Prairie will take days, and more rain is on the way for the Fraser Valley.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says a “couple of poultry barns” have been lost and flocks in other barns were being relocated, as was stock on some hog farms.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2025.