Doug Ford Visits Flood-Hit Niagara Areas but No Aid Announced

Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that he has met with the mayors of two municipalities affected by flooding in the Niagara Region, both of which are under states of emergency. However, there’s still no information regarding potential assistance from the province.

In a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, Ford mentioned that he heard “directly from workers and community members impacted by the recent flooding” in St. Catharines and the nearby Town of Lincoln.

Both areas declared a state of emergency on Monday after consecutive storms dropped a total of 250 millimetres of rain on parts of the region within just a week.

The storms brought about a quarter of what the region usually gets in annual rainfall in only a few days, resulting in floods that affected thousands of homes and businesses.

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe had requested aid from both provincial and federal governments following the storms, saying that his city has been left to handle things alone.

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, who also spoke to reporters on Tuesday, wants Ontario and federal governments to provide immediate help for upgrading crucial stormwater systems. (Diona Macalinga/CBC)

On Thursday, Siscoe mentioned that his office has been communicating with the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing since July 27.

He said his request for assistance “included a request for financial support.”

“So far no financial support has been confirmed. Staff are continuing discussions with provincial officials about obtaining financial help,” Siscoe wrote in an email to CBC Hamilton.

“Currently, support from the province has come through Ontario Corps and Team Rubicon. We’re hopeful for additional assistance soon,” added Siscoe.

Province Working with Mayors for Support

A spokesperson for the Ontario government stated on Thursday that since flooding began, they have been coordinating provincial support with St. Catharines’ and Town of Lincoln’s mayors to assess damages and explore safe mitigation options.

Julia Facca noted that field officers from the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response are actively assisting local authorities along with Niagara Region personnel.

“As we assess eligibility against DRAO requirements through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ontario remains prepared to offer further resources to those affected municipalities.”

A homeowner is pictured in her St. Catharine’s, Ont., basement on Aug. 4, 2026 after it was gutted by restoration workers following an insurance claim. A pair of flood events in the Niagara Region caused damage to thousands of properties. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Meanwhile, Facca said that Salvation Army has partnered with Ontario Corps to distribute cleaning kits while Team Rubicon Canada is involved in debris removal assessments; additionally, they’re sourcing dehumidifiers to assist homeowners drying out basements as well.

Both St. Catharines and neighboring Niagara-on-the-Lake faced severe flooding after a storm on July 28 followed by another hit over the weekend leading to a state emergency declaration.

Siscoe explained that some residents experienced their homes flooding three times within two weeks due to storms occurring on July 21, 27, and 28 which dumped nearly 400 millimetres altogether on St. Catharines.

“I understand how exhausting this situation is as well as how uncertain it feels; it’s taking an emotional toll on everyone here,” he said.

St. Catharines, Ont., declares state of emergency after massive floods from extreme rainstorms

“After facing two major storms back-to-back like this one people feel ready to give up,” shared Mayor Mat Siscoe regarding resident sentiments during these tough times.Ford mentioned in his social media post earlier today that he listened “directly from workers and community members impacted by the recent flooding” affecting St. Catharines as well as nearby Lincoln town.(Ford Nation/Facebook)

The Town of Lincoln also declared its own state emergency due mostly because they deem these floods “historic.”

“Our community faces an extraordinary challenge,” remarked Mayor Sandra Easton.

“We have seen firsthand how devastating these floods can be for families , businesses , farms , and essential infrastructure. Declaring an official State Of Emergency guarantees we take every necessary step possible towards protecting our residents while coordinating effective responses so we advocate efficiently enough when seeking recovery support needed here.”

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