Spring flood: Gatineau introduces measures to help the flood victims

Gatineau, May 14, 2019. – Ville de Gatineau has introduced measures to help the victims of the 2019 flood more quickly regain some sense of normalcy. Residents in the flooded areas will have the option of deferring the next municipal tax payment, due on July 2, to 2020. As well, property owners wishing to do some work on their homes will be exempted from the fees for building permits and authorization certificates.

These measures are conditional upon approval by the Municipal Council at its May 14, 2019 session.

Municipal tax payment deferral

●	Property owners who were hit by the flood may defer and spread out their next municipal tax payment.

●	For the next payment, due on July 2, 2019, 50% can be deferred to the first tax payment in 2020 (February 2020), and the other 50% can be paid with the second tax payment in 2020 (June 2020).

●	No interest or penalty will be charged to any property owner opting to defer their next municipal tax payment.

Building permits and authorization certificates

●	Any work required on homes hit by the flood is exempt from the fees for building permits and authorization certificates.

●	This measure will enable property owners to save on the non-refundable portion of the fees for permits and certificates under the Government of Quebec's Programme général d'indemnisation et d'aide financière lors de sinistres réels ou imminents.

●	However, although the fees are waived, property owners are still required to apply for a building permit and authorization certificate.

●	A building permit is required for any work involving labour and materials costing more than $10,000.

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A permit is also required, regardless of cost, for work involving: - the foundation - the structure or the interior walls - increasing the total surface area of the building - the fire separation - the sprinklers - the fire detection and protection systems - covering up or adding a window - replacing cladding materials, and - installing drinking water supply systems and wastewater treatment systems (wells and septic tanks).

Quick facts

●	Similar measures were introduced after the 2017 flood.

●	It is estimated that close to 2,000 buildings have been hit by the 2019 flood.

●	To date, 1,045 of those households have registered with Gatineau as flood victims.

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The ministère de la Sécurité publique will be holding two information sessions for the flood victims: Tuesday and Wednesday, May 21 and 22 at 7 p.m., at the centre sportif (850 boulevard de la Gappe). The purpose of those evenings is to present the new financial assistance program and to answer questions from the flood victims. - After the presentation, the flood victims will be able to set up an appointment with a claims officer on site. The appointments will be held starting on May 22 in temporary offices at aréna Campeau (165 rue des Sables).

Citation

“We are mindful of the fact that it is not easy for the flood victims to return to their normal lives. The new measures will help ease their burden. The information will be more readily accessible thanks to a team dedicated to them. Eliminating the costs associated with obtaining a permit will also speed up the process,” indicated Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.

Associated links

Permits and authorization certificates

Municipal taxes

2019 spring flood Web page

Applying to the ministère de la Sécurité publique

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