This thread was going to show up sooner or later, so I guess now is an okay time to dip our toes into this debate.
So yesterday environment minister Diana McQueen
wouldn't commit to putting restriction on future development in flood-risk areas. I found that to be a little odd. It seems like the no-brainer lesson to learn from this is to stop building in flood plains.
As for developments already in flood plains, Calgary is way too established as a city to not rebuild and do our best to prevent future floods. We'll see what the situation is in High River when the water recedes, but I think it might be time to clean-up the mess from this disaster and abandon the site. And if government money is going to be used for the rebuild, I think it's fair that it comes with the condition that the rebuilding is done on higher ground.