Montreal elected officials would like Quebec to compensate victims of urban flooding in the same way as local residents affected by spring floods.
Houses affected by sewer overflow following heavy downpours also deserve government assistance, they argue.
The definition used by the Quebec state compensation programs excludes any flooding that occurs “without the water from an overflowing river reaching the land”, denounces the Commission on water of the Montreal municipal council, in a document made public Wednesday.
The elected officials who sit on it – including several members of Valérie Plante’s team – would like the definition to also include “floods resulting from intense rains localized in urban areas and consequently, for flood victims to have recourse to compensation programs governments”.
Maja Vodanovic, responsible for the file at the executive committee, indicated on Wednesday that she took note of this recommendation. “We are currently working with Quebec to make things better for people who are flooded, in different ways,” she said. “We’re on that. »
The elected official spoke on the sidelines of a press conference on the recommendations of the Water Commission. These also include maintaining massive investments in the renovation of the aqueduct network, as well as increasing sanctions against citizens who violate water regulations, by watering their lawn during prohibited periods for example.
The Commission also recommended “consider the regulatory changes necessary to equip new residential buildings with water meters and, on a voluntary basis, existing residential buildings.” Mme Vodanovic pushed back on the idea, saying that installing water meters was “really not the priority” of the Plante administration.