TORONTO — The City of Ottawa is yet to receive payment from the provincial government for its recovery expenses more than five months after a severe storm destroyed property and left residents without electricity for many days.
On May 21, a line of powerful, swift-moving windstorms known as a derecho formed near Sarnia, Ontario, and moved north to Quebec. It was responsible for 11 fatalities, property damage, and the temporary eviction of a large number of people.
Jim Watson, the outgoing mayor of Ottawa, is currently negotiating compensation with the provincial government, which, according to the mayor’s office, agreed to cover all costs associated with municipal recovery.
The estimated cost of the storm for city recovery, including mending harm to public property and clearing debris, is $20 million.
In the municipal election last week, departing Coun. Scott Moffatt, who chose not to compete for re-election, said, “They said they’d be there for us, they’d help us.”
Therefore, there is no reason to suspect that they wouldn’t fulfil their promise.
He stated that if the provincial government does not follow through on its pledge, the city may have to withdraw the funds from its reserve fund, which is set up for unforeseen financial emergencies.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the insured losses would exceed $875 million, making it the sixth costliest storm in Canadian history for insurance firms.
Watson sent a second letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford in late September to include the city on the list of areas qualified for funding under the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians programme. It enables property owners, renters, nonprofit organisations, small enterprises, and farmers to submit claims for financial assistance for storm-related damages.
The mayor’s office says it has yet to receive a response.
Coun.
Following the last municipal election, Catherine Kitts, who was re-elected, has been advocating on behalf of many impacted residents. Some, she claimed, still don’t have appropriate roofs because they can’t afford the costs of repairs.
According to Kitts, “people are truly suffering and feel abandoned by the government.” “Why have this program if you’re not going to use it in the wake of disaster?”.
Ottawa City is awaiting information regarding derecho storm compensation.
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