Toews announces $50M federal flood relief

The federal government has announced $50 million in disaster assistance funding to Manitoba to help cover the cost of widespread flooding last spring and summer.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced what he called an advance payment in Brandon on Monday.

Steve Ashton, Manitoba's minister of Emergency Measures, says the province is grateful for the money.

The federal government has also provided $63 million for flood protection and recovery costs to Manitoba First Nations which were hit by floods.

Manitoba has estimated the cost of the 2011 flood will exceed $700 million, the costliest flood on record. In 1997 after the so-called Flood of the Century, the federal government contributed more than $230 million in Disaster Financial Assistance.

About 2,100 people from eight Manitoba First Nations still haven't been able to return home because of the 2011 flooding. The floods damaged private and government property and resulted in nearly 6,000 people having to leave their homes.