Some residents in Ottawa, especially those in areas severely affected by the intense Canada Day storms, are upset that they aren’t yet eligible for help from the province.
On Friday, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing detailed which parts of Ottawa would qualify for the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program, intended to reimburse people for cleanup expenses, repairing or replacing essential items, and basic emergency costs.
A coverage map released along with Friday’s announcement indicates that residents near Graham Creek and Stillwater Creek will receive assistance.
However, locals like Merv Sullivan argue that many neighborhoods hit hard by the rain – which brought over 150 millimeters of precipitation in some spots and flooded numerous basements – have been overlooked.
Sullivan has lived in his home in Crystal Beach for 55 years. The flooding ruined his basement, moving heavy appliances like his freezer and water heater out of place.
He expressed confusion over why Crystal Beach isn’t marked on the province’s map.
“I have to tell you, the disaster did not stop at the border of Crystal Beach. That’s not the way it worked,” Sullivan said. “This was one of the worst streets in terms of [the storm’s] effect.”
The Ontario government released this map on Friday, with the yellow portion showing the part of Ottawa that would be eligible for DRAO funding. (Government of Ontario)
Paul Maloney lives nearby Sullivan and experienced around a metre of water flooding his basement.
He hopes that officials will reconsider and include their neighborhood in the DRAO activation area.
“Sometimes looking at a paper map doesn’t really give you the boots-on-the-ground story. And I think that’s what we found here. And that’s why this little bubble of humanity that we call Crystal Beach has been left off the map,” he said.
CBC reached out to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for more information but did not hear back by deadline.
Merv Sullivan stands in the wrecked garage of his home in Crystal Beach, which was flooded by about a metre of water on Canada Day. (Nathan Fung/CBC)
Anger from city councillors
City councillors representing flood-affected areas not included in DRAO’s initial rollout have also shared their frustrations.
In a video posted online, Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh, whose ward covers Crystal Beach, stated she was “very angry” about its exclusion.
“I think this is a huge mistake on the part of the Ontario government, and I think they’d better rethink it. These are people that need help,” she said.</P
The designated area also excluded parts within Coun. Laine Johnson’s College ward.</P
Johnson mentioned she’s been contacting provincial officials trying to find out how they decided which areas were included.</P
“When your funding program is called Disaster [Recovery] Assistance fund, people need to understand very well why their disaster does not deserve that relief,” she said.
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