Quebec won't permit reconstruction of worst-hit homes in flood zones
Exception made for Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac residents, although new construction will be prohibited
CBC News ·
The Quebec government has imposed a freeze on repairs to homes
that were badly damaged in this spring's floods, with the exception of
houses inundated by the Lake of Two Mountains in
Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac.
The decree, announced Monday by
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Andrée Laforest, applies to homes
that sustained more than 50 per cent damage, which flooded in 2017 or
2019, as well as any homes in a zero-to-20 year — or high-risk — flood
zone.
The freeze went into effect at 2 p.m. Monday and will remain
in effect until new rules on building in flood zones are adopted
between now and the end of the year.
Laforest said the measure was
put in place immediately in order to avoid a "race for permits" by
homeowners still hoping to undertake extensive repairs.
Ste-Marthe 'exceptional'
More
than 5,000 residents in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac were evacuated last
April 27, when a 50-metre section of the dike holding back the Lake of
Two Mountains was breached.
Because the flooding in Sainte-Marthe
was related to the dike breach, residents in that area will be
allowed to rebuild homes even if they sustained more than 50 per cent
damage.
"The case of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac is an exceptional
one," said Laforest, defending herself against a suggestion that
community is getting special treatment. "If the dike hadn't been
breached, we wouldn't be there."
The government has already committed to rebuilding and reinforcing that dike,
which was constructed in 1980. However, it now says no new construction
will be approved for the Sainte-Marthe flood plain, on properties
vacant as of June 10.
As announced last April,
victims of recurring floods are entitled to compensation of 50 per cent
of a home's value, to a maximum of $100,000. Once damage exceeds that
amount, homeowners will no longer be compensated for flood damage to
their property, but they can receive up to $200,000 to relocate to an
area outside the flood zone.
With files from CBC's Matt D'Amours and Radio-Canada
