Alberta says too soon to decide whether to restrict development in flood zones

CALGARY – As people in southern Alberta begin to recover from the devastation caused by heavy flooding the province says it is too soon to say whether it will restrict development in flood-prone areas.

A government task force recommended such rules for municipalities in a report completed in 2006, but the recommendation has not been acted on.

Environment Minister Diana McQueen says a new government committee will now study the idea along with municipalities.

McQueen says it is also too soon to say whether the government will make a decision before major reconstruction work begins.

The minister says the government has made progress on many of the recommendations made in the 2006 mitigation report.

But she says none of the measures would have prevented the heavy floods that ravaged Calgary, High River and other communities.