A state of emergency has been declared in Brantford – due to flooding.

Levels of the Grand River have been rising after a winter ice-jam released – and sent a powerful surge of water downstream.

More than 5,000 people and 2,200 homes are affected by the flooding in the city.

Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne arrived there this afternoon to assess the situation, saying the government wants to “respond to the actual needs of the community rather than imposing supports that aren’t needed – and it works best when the municipality let’s us know what’s needed – so we can respond appropriately.”

Meanwhile – almost 100 kilometres away, a three-year-old boy remains missing after the family minivan was swept into the Grand River, west of Orangeville overnight.

The child slipped from his mother’s arms as the woman was escaping from the submerged van.