Assistance to municipalities | Legault promises 100 million to fight against the erosion of the banks

(Fatima, Îles-de-la-Madeleine) After seeing the damage caused by the hurricane Fiona in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, François Legault promised an additional $100 million on Monday to help municipalities fight against shoreline erosion. There is not a part reserved exclusively for the archipelago, while the CAQ leader recognizes that this is where “it is most urgent to act”.

Tommy Chouinard
The Press

In 2020, as mayor of the Magdalen Islands, his candidate Jonathan Lapierre demanded, along with PQ MP Joël Arseneau, 80 million in 10 years to adapt the Islands to climate change.

At a press conference in Fatima, while Mr. Lapierre was at his side, François Legault refused to commit to paying this sum if he is re-elected.

He was content to recall the sums granted since 2018 by his government: 16.5 million from the Ministry of Public Security, 45.6 million from the Ministry of Transport.

“There are funds available for the Islands”, rejoiced in spite of everything Jonathan Lapierre. He argued that the 100 million is in addition to the 70 million currently spent on shoreline erosion control.

The stopover in the Islands was planned for a long time as part of the campaign, as was the promise of 100 million, argued François Legault. Fiona demonstrated the need for the investment, he argued.

If there is no budget reserved for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, it is because shoreline erosion also affects the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and Côte-Nord regions, and that “we are not going to start having a program for each region,” replied Mr. Legault. He specified that a project office would be set up to coordinate the work of eight ministries, because the regions complain of bureaucratic maze. This office would make an inventory of needs. “If it is necessary to add more [d’argent]we will add more, ”said the chief caquiste.

Damage report

With his prime minister’s hat, François Legault had a meeting with the interim mayor Gaétan Richard. He gave him an inventory of the damage caused by the storm (on Route 199 – the structure of which is affected between Pointe-aux-Loups and Havre-aux-Maisons –, to the water distribution network, to the church, not to mention residences and businesses).

A compensation office will open on Tuesday, while Mr. Legault has promised to offer compensation for what is not covered by insurance. A public consultation will be held that day, in the evening, for residents and merchants.

The interim mayor highlighted the effectiveness of the riprap work in the historic sector of La Grave, in the south of the archipelago. “Just to give you an idea, people on the other side of the street had boarded up their business with plywood because they thought that with all the rocks, it’s going to come out and it’s going to collect everywhere. But there was no damage; the wave hit and stayed on the side of the riprap,” explained Gaétan Richard.

“I was lucky”

Then François Legault put on his hat as leader of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) to meet disaster victims with his candidate, particularly in the La Grave sector.

Riprap work was completed last spring and averted the worst in the area. François Legault said this technique could be replicated elsewhere. Barges brought rocks from Newfoundland to protect La Grave. “I asked myself the same question as you. Could we find rocks in Quebec? “said Mr. Legault.

A director of works for the municipality, Jean Hubert, explained to him that “there were a lot of skeptics about the riprap”, but they were confused.

“Honestly, no, I didn’t think it would do the job,” admitted Linda Lebel, owner of a chocolate factory.

“Lucky she wasn’t attached to the building!” she said, while adding that equipment no longer works and that her terrace was heavily damaged.

“No dyke, not sure we’d be there. It really worked”, testified for her part Nathalie Bénard, co-owner of the Café de La Grave, who also deplores some material damage.

Adequate protections?

In the area of ​​Chemin des Chalets, near Cap-aux-Meules, a resident, Georgette Landry, said that it is for her “panic”. The facilities she had set up to protect her main residence were swept away by Fiona. “Right now, if we have another storm…it’s difficult,” she said.

“A question that will have to be asked sooner or later, replied Jonathan Lapierre, is: is there a protection that must be made or is it a displacement [des propriétés] what should be done? »

François Legault denied having mixed genres by going to the Magdalen Islands as both prime minister and party leader. “I held a press conference this weekend in Quebec with the Deputy Prime Minister. I met the mayor alone [intérimaire]. I think I was able to separate the two roles,” he pleaded. He assured that his party – and not the state – pays 100% of the costs of the trip.

Iles-de-la-Madeleine is a riding to watch on October 3. The outgoing deputy, the PQ Joël Arseneau, won by only 15 votes in 2018.