BEZAN CALLS FOR SOLUTIONS NOT EXCUSES FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

6/1/2012

ST. LAURENT, MB - After touring areas still suffering from the aftershocks of the Flood of 2011 and meeting with flood victims and municipal leaders, Selkirk-Interlake Member of Parliament James Bezan, made the following statement:

“I am deeply dismayed that we are still looking for answers for a disaster that started over a year ago.  The terrible flood of 2011 continues to devastate property owners, agriculture producers, communities and municipalities around Lake Manitoba, and everyone is left in the lurch.”

“I share their frustration for being artificially flooded and sacrificed due to the operation of the Assiniboine Diversion.  Although the excessive spring runoff and precipitation last year was natural, it must be restated, not one drop of water which enters the Assiniboine River watershed, naturally flows into Lake Manitoba.  If it was allowed to flow naturally, it would all enter the Red River at the Forks.”

“It is equally aggravating that here we are, a year after the start of the flood and still experiencing high water levels on Lake Manitoba, and there are still no concrete plans on building an outlet that can accommodate the higher flows that can now be pushed through the Assiniboine Diversion.”

“I am proud to be part of a federal government that improved the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) to help deal with flooding.  This is a federal program in which the Government of Canada provides financial assistance to provincial and territorial governments.  Based on the changes, temporary earthen dikes and other flood mitigation infrastructure, made during the flood can be left as permanent flood protection and can still be covered under established DFAA funding guidelines to a maximum of 90% by the federal government. The Government of Canada also advanced $50 million to the Province of Manitoba to help offset the upfront costs of this flood.”  

“Our Conservative government outlined in our last budget, Economic Action Plan 2012, that we will be providing up to $99.2 million over three years to assist the provinces and territories with the cost of permanent flood mitigation measures undertaken for the 2011 floods.”

“It has been saddening to hear of the undue hardship suffered by communities, homeowners and ranchers.  The slow pace of settling claims for flood victims and municipalities is adding insult to injury.  The Province of Manitoba is the lead agency for operating emergency measures.  The processing of claims is also strictly provincial jurisdiction through the provincially administered Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA).  The recent provincial budget admits that the processing of flood claims in a timely manner has been slow due to understaffing, which has resulted in tardy reimbursements to flood victims and municipalities for eligible expenses.”

“These good people have had to deal with all of the heartache and headache that goes with this flood, and yet we don't seem to be any closer to putting this ordeal behind us.  It is time for the provincial government to show some resolve and come up with actual solutions, and not excuses.  All flood victims need to be treated with the respect they deserve and shown our gratitude for their involuntary sacrifice."

“I am also concerned that farm and ranch land along Lake Manitoba will not be productive in the near future.  I have raised the issue of implementing another AgriRecovery Program for impacted farmers and ranchers with federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz directly, and by letter to Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn.  It is my hope that the Province of Manitoba will work with the federal government and move ahead with an AgriRecovery Program for producers around Lake Manitoba.”

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