Quebec government poised to increase funding for flood-hit people and businesses

<p>MONTREAL – The Quebec government is poised to increase the amount it will give to flood-stricken people and businesses in the province’s Monteregie region.</p> <p>Public Security Minister Robert Dutil will table a decree today increasing the maximum aid for individuals to $150,000 from $100,000, while businesses will be able to claim $200,000, up from $150,000.</p> <p>The cabinet is expected to approve the increase by the end of today.</p> <p>There will also be measures dealing with daily allowances and with the cost of moving and storage.</p> <p>Canadian soldiers have been helping provincial police and disaster relief organizations to aid flood victims in the region since the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain overflowed their banks.</p> <p>Civil protection officials say water levels have started to lower as warmer weather has arrived and steady rain has stopped.</p>