Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government is launching a $300 million recovery fund for the provinces affected by post-tropical storm Fiona.
Fiona made landfall as a fierce post-tropical storm in the early hours of Sept. 24, bringing hurricane-force wind, heavy rain, and leaving hundreds of thousands without power across eastern Canada.
“Last week, I got to see firsthand the damage from the storm,” said Trudeau during a news conference on the Dartmouth waterfront Tuesday afternoon.
“And as I said, it was much worse than images from TV or the internet could show – especially because I got to meet people who were affected.”
Trudeau said the recovery fund will be administered through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec (DEC), as well as other federal departments.
“This funding will support projects to repair and rebuild storm-damaged critical infrastructure such as wharves, support the cleanup of fishing gear so that boats and marine life can once again safely navigate these waters,” said Trudeau.
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The new fund will be for anyone not covered by any of the other Fiona aid programs, including the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program.
“Whether it be federal infrastructure, whether it be community infrastructure, whether it be people who are facing challenges from uninsured structural damage in their homes – we are there to help out,” he said.
He did not say when the funding will roll out or how people and businesses will be able to apply.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, said the agency is “extremely well positioned” to coordinate funding.
She said there are still some details to be worked out, “but I can tell you that the money is going to be rolling out very quickly because we recognize there are serious needs on the ground and we want to be there for Canadians.”
Trudeau was also joined by Sean Fraser, federal Immigration Minister and Minister of Official Languages, Darren Fisher, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Seniors, Andy Fillmore, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Lena Metlege Diab, MP for Halifax West.
Later in the afternoon, Trudeau was scheduled to attend a briefing and meet with employees from the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth.
As well, Trudeau met with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston in Halifax, before participating in a panel discussion on healthy oceans.
The federal government has previously announced a donation-matching program with the Canadian Red Cross to support those impacted by the storm, and has approved requests for federal assistance for Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador.
As well, 850 Canadian Armed Forces members have been deployed to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts.
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