TORONTO – “Show me the money.”
That’s what some Ontario residents believe they’re hearing from the provincial government after suffering through a disaster.
For residents in the small town of Minden Hills, Ont., the spring of 2013 was unusually harsh. Heavy snow and ice jams caused the water from surrounding rivers to rise. The water rose into the small town, making streets in the core impassable.
In late April, Laura Peter was forced out of her home in the small community, near Haliburton. The Irondale River behind her house rose and she was trapped in her home as it began to seep in. A friend backed his truck into her driveway, rescuing Peter and her dog. Peter was unable to return to her home for 20 days.
Peter, as well as the rest of the Minden Hills residents, haven’t seen any money from the provincial government. That’s because first they have to hold fundraising events.
Ontario is the only province that requires victims of a disaster to raise their own money.
In the case of the Minden Hills flood, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is giving a $1000 advance to residents — an advance that hasn’t been received yet. For those who were out of their homes, the $1000 is little compensation. (The advance that Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program, or ODRAP, is offering Minden Hills won’t be seen until at least July 31, while the community tallies up the remaining claims.)
“In the event of a natural disaster, individuals are expected to bear the initial responsibility for their losses. If the losses are so extensive that individuals cannot cope on their own, the municipality and the community at large are expected to provide support.”
–Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program Guidelines
“One of the philosophies is right there…If they are beyond the capacity of the community, then the provincial program provides assistance,” said Hannah Evans, Director of Municipal Programs and Education at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “And that’s the continuum of support behind disaster relief.”
Brigitte Gall, who was also forced out of her home during the Minden Hills flood, is still waiting for assistance. Gall finds the fact that municipalities in the midst of hardship are first held accountable during a disaster to be extremely frustrating.
Once ODRAP declares the town a disaster area, a Disaster Assistance Relief Committee is set up, made up of residents in the community, and ideally by those who are not making any claims.
Evans said, “The Disaster Relief Committee has two primary responsibilities. Responsibility Number One is to publicize the program in the community and to encourage people who have claims to submit the claims…to the program manager… It also has a fundraising function.”
ODRAP also requires that two separate assessments are conducted on any claim. From there, residents are required to pass that on to the committee. After the assessment, the replacement is covered, less 10 per cent. But there are also many things that aren’t covered, things that small-town residents consider necessities of life, such as snowblowers and firewood.
For Peter, who suffers from a brain injury and lives on her own, it’s an arduous task. “What do I know about that? I don’t know one guy who can assess me,” she said.
“The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program or, as I call it the Ontario Disaster Relief Aggravation Program, is really an onerous, time-consuming, emotionally-draining expectation that people who have had a disaster like this,” said Gall.
“You’re not covered by insurance; the province is not obligated to come in and assist,” she said. “I don’t wish this on anybody.
“The expectation again is that the community, through no fault of their own, which was hit by a natural disaster, it is now incumbent on them to do the lion’s share of the fundraising.”
The procedure for receiving financial disaster relief across the country is relatively the same from Newfoundland to British Columbia to Nunavut. A municipality must first apply to the appropriate ministry for a town or municipality to be declared a disaster area. But for Ontario, that’s where the similarities end.
In B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta — almost everywhere — it is relatively easy to apply for disaster assistance. There are links online and instructions where residents can fill out online forms. But not for Ontario.
In Ontario, once municipalities raise the funds, the Ontario Disaster Relief Program (ODRAP) covers up to 90 per cent of claims (as with all disaster relief programs across the country, there is a type of deductible that a resident has) and offers a 2-to-1 ratio for every dollar raised by the community.
Minden Hills Reeve Barb Reid said that she doesn’t have a problem with Ontario’s methods, specifically if there’s a maximum each household can claim in other provinces.
“I’d rather have the community fundraise and know that I might be able to get $50,000 to pay for the damage for my house,” Reid said.
“We stand to get 2 for 1, if we do a good job. So rather than bellyache and moan about the system and whether it’s fair or unfair, we all just said ‘It is what it is, let’s make it work to our advantage.'”
But that’s not how Gall feels.
“So never mind that you need to put your life back in order and tap into any savings if you had… or credit you may have…you’re now waiting again on a very long, protracted period of time to see if you will qualify or if you will ever get a portion of that back.”
Tim Wilson, Communications Officer with Alberta’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs said that the province doesn’t have a cap for a total declaration amount. As with every province, it doesn’t cover luxury items. And it does cap each individual item.
Further research found no other maximums for households. There is, across every province, a maximum for each item claimed. For example, in Alberta a resident can only claim a maximum of $500 for a dryer or $1000 maximum per freezer. However, in the extreme case of people who have lost entire homes, as what happened this past June in Calgary, there is an exception.
“The intent of the program is to provide life essentials,” Wilson said. “People who have had their houses destroyed could receive up to the amount of the property as indicated on their property assessment.”
“In a small community, if you can’t fundraise, too bad for you,” Gall said.
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And that just may be the case in Kawartha Lakes, where residents also felt the wrath of the 2013 spring thaw.
The community is looking to raise $135,000 in order to receive their $400,000. As of the middle of July, the community had only raised around $15,000.
However, Robert Smith, Project Manager for the City of Kawartha Lakes Disaster Relief Committee, said he hasn’t heard any complaints from residents.
“There is a process to go through, and the process has to be followed,” said Smith. “I haven’t heard a great deal of negativity.”
When asked what will happen to residents if not enough money is raised, Smith said, “Then they’re out of luck. That is the bottom line.”
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