Two weeks after Hurricane Debbie, there are questions about compensation.
Following the weather event, Prime Minister François Legault announced his intention to expand the disaster assistance program, but the idea did not materialize.
Now,now, many citizens are still being affected by the scheme, while others who thought they would get compensation have learned that they won’t get a penny in the end.
To qualify for the Quebec compensation plan, you must have been the victim of a backup or water intrusion, and the disaster must have occurred following the overflow of a waterway.
So, even if you experience a sewer backup, if it does not occur after the water bodies overflow, you will not be compensated.
“This exclusion is in all water damage coverage by private insurers and was already in the government’s flood scheme. So we can see that ultimately there will be no change in the plan,” said insurance broker Louis Cyr.
Angry mayors
The change in direction of the Quebec government has angered many mayors, particularly in the metropolitan area. They are upset that only a small portion of the population can be compensated.
“We were surprised by the Quebec government’s change of direction. Mr. Legault indicated that there would be flexibility and transparency,” Montreal Mayor Valéry Plante told TVA Nouvelles.
Still, he says, the mayors will continue to push Quebec so more Quebecers get compensation.
So far, 5,798 requests for financial assistance have been submitted to the Quebec government. They are upset that only a small portion of the population can be compensated.
“We were surprised by the Quebec government’s change of direction. Mr. Legault indicated that there would be flexibility and transparency,” Montreal Mayor Valéry Plante told TVA Nouvelles.
Still, he says, the mayors will continue to push Quebec so more Quebecers get compensation.
“(Given) the amount of damage caused by a disaster, there are a lot of people who are going to lose. It will change their way of life and it will change their coming months,” declared Sébastien Nadeau, Mayor of L’Assomption.
To date, 5,798 requests for financial assistance have been submitted to the Quebec government.
