Dave Chartrand checks the efficiency of the pumps around friends home on Saint-Jean-Baptiste street in Oka on Tuesday.
Montreal taxpayers in areas affected by flooding will have extra time to pay the second instalment of their property tax bill, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced Saturday.
“The exceptional and difficult situation faced by the flood victims deserves exceptional measures. That is why it is important for our administration to offer property owners a delay in the payment of their property taxes, ” Coderre said.
Letters will be sent to victims whose homes and businesses have suffered damage due to the floods, informing them they can have longer to pay off their bill, he said.
Also, any owner who believes that the damage caused by flooding is likely to diminish the value of the property should get in touch with the city’s assessment department. It can be contacted at 514-280-3825.
“The deadline announced today, coupled with the existing opportunity to have a property re-evaluated, will hopefully provide some respite for those who are facing challenges,” said Pierre Desrochers, chairman of the city’s Executive Council.
At a press briefing by provincial ministers, Public Safety Minister Martin Coiteux pointed to “encouraging signs” in the situation across the province, even though several regions remain affected by significant flooding.
Coiteux stated that water levels continue to decline in several areas, including the Outaouais River, Lac des Deux-Montagnes, Rivière des Prairies and even Lac Saint-Pierre in the Mauricie region. Water levels have not risen in that region, contrary to predictions.
However, Coiteux added that even if the water has started to recede, “it is still there.” He said resources will be deployed to help clean up flooded areas and support the municipalities that are affected.
Coiteux and his Finance Minister Carlos Leitão both reiterated Premier Philippe Couillard’s remarks to reassure victims, saying that money set aside for aid programs has not been “shut down” and that the government will respond to all requests. Leitão added that the government would also review the parameters of existing programs.
Coderre announced that the state of emergency decreed last Sunday will be lifted on Sunday at noon.
The next step, he said, was to start the cleanup. Both Coderre and Montreal Fire Department chief Bruno Lachance urged residents to call the fire department before returning home so an inspection can be done to determine the steps to take to render a flooded house safe again.
Coderre said it will be a long process to get people back home to repair the damage, and to heal psychological wounds.
“There will be another trauma (for many people) when they return to their homes, so we will have psychological services available for people,” Coderre said.
Coderre said people are asking what they can do to help, so a brigade day for volunteers will be organized in the coming days or weeks.
Coderre said he believes the city was well prepared to deal with the disaster, and praised the work done by city employees, the fire department, police and the Canadian army.
“There will be a post mortem and we’ll see how we can improve,” he said.
Presse canadienne contributed to this report.