Flooding in eastern regions is the ‘obvious manifestation’ of climate change: Ralph Goodale

In Quebec, more than 3,000 homes are already underwater and another 2,300 are surrounded by it. More than 1,100 people are out of their homes.

Officials are also keeping a close eye on a hydroelectric dam, on a tributary of the Ottawa River west of Montreal, that's at risk of failing.

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford says he believes climate change is among the reasons eastern Ontario homeowners are trying to save their homes from flooding for the second time in three years.

Ford was in the rural west end of Ottawa this morning, touring flooded areas along the Ottawa River, where officials are warning a new rain storm will make water levels rise rapidly over the next few days, likely exceeding the levels seen during a 2017 flood.

In Ottawa, Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency because of flooding with another 20 mm to 50 mm of rain forecast to fall by the end of tomorrow.

A forecast by the interprovincial committee that regulates water levels in the Ottawa River says all that rain could increase its level near Parliament Hill by nearly a metre within a few days -- paths behind Parliament are already underwater.

Residents in several small communities on the eastern and western edges of Ottawa are sandbagging to keep their homes dry.

About 400 soldiers have been deployed to the Ottawa area to help sandbag and assist with other flood operations.

At a press conference this morning, the Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale, said the impacts of climate change are "dangerous and damaging" - and the flooding throughout eastern regions of Canada is the most obvious manifestation of a changing climate.

He says this is a national public safety problem.

In Quebec, more than 3,000 homes are already underwater and another 2,300 are surrounded by it. More than 1,100 people are out of their homes.

Officials are also keeping a close eye on a hydroelectric dam, on a tributary of the Ottawa River west of Montreal, that's at risk of failing.

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford says he believes climate change is among the reasons eastern Ontario homeowners are trying to save their homes from flooding for the second time in three years.

Ford was in the rural west end of Ottawa this morning, touring flooded areas along the Ottawa River, where officials are warning a new rain storm will make water levels rise rapidly over the next few days, likely exceeding the levels seen during a 2017 flood.

In Ottawa, Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency because of flooding with another 20 mm to 50 mm of rain forecast to fall by the end of tomorrow.

A forecast by the interprovincial committee that regulates water levels in the Ottawa River says all that rain could increase its level near Parliament Hill by nearly a metre within a few days -- paths behind Parliament are already underwater.

Residents in several small communities on the eastern and western edges of Ottawa are sandbagging to keep their homes dry.

About 400 soldiers have been deployed to the Ottawa area to help sandbag and assist with other flood operations.

At a press conference this morning, the Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale, said the impacts of climate change are "dangerous and damaging" - and the flooding throughout eastern regions of Canada is the most obvious manifestation of a changing climate.

He says this is a national public safety problem.