VENISE-EN-QUEBEC, Que. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally arrived in Quebec’s flood zone – and, while he didn’t bring his hip waders, he did come carrying a few funding announcements.
The prime minister completed a helicopter tour over the disaster area Monday, where 3,000 homes have been flooded and hundreds have been forced from their houses.
He also took a walking tour to visit flood installations, chat with area residents and soldiers, and meet with local officials.
"It’s obvious the damage is considerable," Harper told a news conference.
He said he was pleased to see that the situation might, finally, be getting better. He also saluted the work of the Canadian Forces and said the rest of the country’s thoughts were with the flood victims.
Harper announced several initiatives – including financial help for Quebec’s disaster response and funding for its flood-mitigation program.
The prime minister also announced plans for a national disaster-mitigation strategy that would help enhance infrastructure for future crises.
Federal ministers and civil servants will meet with provincial counterparts to discuss things like: raising homes in flood zones, insurance programs, burying electrical cables, updating zoning and building codes, and hazard mapping.
"The people of Monteregie can rest assured that our government is working closely with the province and affected communities to keep them safe and to help them rebuild their communities and lives," Harper said in a statement. "Our goal is to help them return to a normal life as quickly as possible."
The prime minister’s helicopter tour allowed him to get an overview of the damage. In some areas, dozens of rows of streets remain submerged.
Entire golf courses, yards, swimming pools – all remain buried under water over a stretch of land spanning over a dozen kilometres and pockets of 22 municipalities.
It was Harper’s first visit since the flooding began more than 40 days ago.
Wearing a blazer and slacks, Harper was dressed for meetings with officials – not for sloshing through flood waters as other high-profile visitors have done.
The federal government has come under some criticism for its handling of the disaster.
Some residents and politicians continued to argue Monday that the military presence was scaled down too quickly and that Ottawa hasn’t done enough to help.
The prime minister was also asked at a news conference why it took him so long to visit; he managed to tour disaster sites this spring in Alberta and Manitoba, well before making a comparable trip to Quebec.
A sign – painted in red – on a roof above one house helped illustrate that time gap: "Jour 45" (Day 45).
About 3,000 homes have been flooded since the waters began rising in the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain basin.
Waters have gradually started to recede in recent days but still remain about a metre above normal June levels.
The federal help will include funding 50 per cent – or $2 million – of the province’s existing $4 million flood-mitigation plan for the region.
There will also be disaster response assistance, after Quebec sends the standard request for federal help. That request must be completed within six months.
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