Editorial: Approve Sussex flood fix fast

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Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore is responsibly doing his job in calling for the federal government to act swiftly on the Town of Sussex’s $38 million flood mitigation plan that constitutes “a top need” within the province.

The Feb. 29 flood inundated much of Sussex, the third such flood in 10 years. Total damages this year are still being tallied, but it was similar in severity to a previous flood that caused $18 million in damage, according to Tammy Scott-Wallace, Sussex resident and provincial minister of tourism, heritage and culture. She knows first-hand the stress, frustrations and loss of irreplaceable keepsakes such disasters cause.

Neither Moore nor anyone else need exaggerate to make their case to spur quick action. The simple facts speak for themselves. This effort involves three governments and elected people with various party leanings, but we’ve followed the leadership of Mayor Marc Thorne over the last 10 years pulling together an aggressive strategy and smart plan, with an ultimately unified council in its determination to mitigate the flooding in the best, most permanent way possible – and affordably.

The public has been consulted throughout, details and possibilities debated respectfully, experts consulted, studies commissioned. It will be done correctly the first time as best anyone can tell. Thorne is modest and gives the entire team credit for the effort to move forward. And it was done with fair debate, education of the public and council itself, and in the end, the facts and expertise ruled the day. If only all governments functioned so well focused on finding the best solutions.

Sussex has a complex, unique underlying geology that complicates the problem, but it’s about a year now since it s funding proposal was submitted to Ottawa. No delay is warranted.