Dozens of flood victims from all over the province, gathered in front of Public Security Minister, Martin Coiteux’s office in Kirkland, on Sunday morning, with a message for the government.
“Come live our life for one week, one month. Come do it and see what we’re going through,” said Rigaud resident Sharon Tower.
“We’re sick, we’re depressed, we’re anxious. You have no idea how we’ve lived, it’s criminal.”
READ MORE: Majority of flood victims experiencing anxiety, mental health issues, survey says
To try and make the provincial government understand how they’ve been coping, they all gathered together to voice their concerns.
“I don’t have a stove in my kitchen,” said Gatineau resident Roxanne Briand. “I have folding tables as counters. I don’t have a real sink, it’s just something thrown together for now. We are managing to wash our dishes and do a few things but it’s not life. I don’t even have a refrigerator.”
Most of the flood victims in attendance can relate.
READ MORE: ‘Very little action’: Quebec flood victims in Cartierville desperate for answers
Some have still not been able to re-enter their homes and others are struggling with debt because of the cost of demolition and renovations.
All of them say the government’s compensation program has simply been disorganized and slow and their frustration is growing.
READ MORE: Quebec floods: Victims, Martin Coiteux discuss compensation process
“If we are able to get a permit, nobody has any clear answers. If we are able to go back to our home, nobody has any clear answers. How long it’s going to take? Nobody knows,” said Île-Bizard resident Tauseef Bhatti.
Coiteux spoke to Global News on Thursday and said he understands why people are rallying and wants them to know they’re doing their best.
“They have a legitimate impatience,” he said. “Some of those people have been out of their homes for weeks, or months in some cases. I understand that. The fact is, we had over 5,000 homes flooded this year, over 3,000 that have had to be inspected. We’ve organized work in a way that it could be done as quickly as possible. It’s not like we had a couple of dozen cases.”
READ MORE: Quebec floods: Victims fed up of waiting for compensation
But victims say, that excuse isn’t good enough.
Rally organizers say that next step is to take their cries to the government, altogether.
“We’ve been flooded by bureaucracy, so it’s time to flood them right now with requests to accelerate your files,” said organizer and Pierrefonds resident, Itsik Romano.
WATCH BELOW: Quebec Floods: Martin Coiteux addresses compensation issues
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