Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) is a program of the Government of Canada that provides financial assistance to provincial and territorial governments following large-scale natural disasters.
Provinces can apply to the program for assistance when eligible costs exceed one dollar per capita,[1] at which point the federal government will share 50% of the cost. If the costs exceed $3 per capita this rises to 75%, and when costs reach $5 per capita, the federal government is required to pay 90 per cent of the costs.[2] [3]
Since its inception in 1970, a 2011–12 report stated that the program had paid out $2 billion in post-disaster assistance.[4] Following the 2013 Alberta floods, $2 billion was earmarked for the province and the government sought a $689-million increase in funding for the program from parliament.[5]
The program has come under criticism for favouring some provinces over others, and for not including public health emergencies in its remit.[6]
| Province/Territory | $ millions | |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 72 | |
| Alberta | 68 | |
| Northwest Territories | 60 | |
| Yukon | 32 | |
| Nunavut | 30 | |
| Saskatchewan | 17 | |
| Manitoba | 12 | |
| Ontario | 3 | |
| Quebec | 2 | |
| New Brunswick | 1 | |
| Nova Scotia | 1 | |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 298 |
Events that have received funding include 1996 Saguenay Flood, 1997 Red River flood, 2010 Hurricane Igor in Newfoundland and the 2011 Assiniboine River Flood.