(Fatima, Îles-de-la-Madeleine) After noting the damage left by the storm Fiona in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, François Legault promised an additional $100 million on Monday to help municipalities fight against shoreline erosion if he is re-elected. There is not a part reserved exclusively for the archipelago, while the CAQ leader recognizes that this is where the needs are “the most pressing”.
Posted at 5:11 p.m.
Updated at 6:14 p.m.
In 2020, as mayor of the Magdalen Islands, his candidate Jonathan Lapierre demanded, along with PQ MP Joël Arseneau, 80 million in ten years to adapt the Islands to climate change. The Legault government has granted him 16 million since.
With his prime minister’s hat, François Legault had a meeting with the interim mayor Gaétan Richard. He gave her an inventory of the damage caused by the storm (on Route 199, the structure of which would be affected in certain places, the aqueduct network, the church, not to mention residences and businesses).
A claims office will open on Tuesday. A public consultation will be held that day, in the evening, for residents and merchants.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
François Legault pledged an additional $100 million on Monday to help municipalities fight shoreline erosion if he is re-elected.
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.
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. A director of works from the municipality, Jean Hubert, explained to him that “there were a lot of skeptics about the riprap”, but they were confused since the worst was avoided.
“Honestly, no, I didn’t think it would do the job,” admitted Linda Lebel, owner of a chocolate factory. “I am blessed. It hit, but I was lucky. We’ve been working for two days, washing with bleach and at least it’s done, ”she said, adding that equipment no longer works and that her terrace has been heavily damaged. damaged. “Lucky she wasn’t attached to the building!” »
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
“It hit, but I was lucky,” says Linda Lebel, owner of a chocolate factory.
“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.
François Legault denied having mixed genres by going to the Magdalen Islands as both prime minister and party leader. The stopover was long planned, as was the promise of 100 million, he argued. He assured that his party – and not the state – pays 100% of the costs of the trip.