June 10, 2019

FLOOD COMPENSATION MEETINGS JUNE 11-12 FOR THE PUBLIC

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

HUNTSVILLE — Flood victims can learn more about how they can apply for provincial compensation over the next two days.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is holding information sessions about DRAO in Bracebridge at the Sportsplex at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and in Huntsville at the Town Hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

They follow a meeting Clark had Monday explaining similar details to Muskoka municipal mayors.

Dan Barkwell, left, owner of Moose Delaney’s Sports Grill, listens as Dezarae Aldridge-Earl describes the flooding in her business, Dental Hygiene with Dezarae, to Norman Miller, Minister Steve Clark and Mayor Scott Aitchison.

Local MPP Norman Miller hosted that meeting between at Huntsville’s town hall.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is responsible for Ontario’s disaster recovery programs – Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) which helps individuals, small businesses and not-for profit organizations after a natural disaster and the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program which helps municipalities rebuild infrastructure after a natural disaster.

The municipal meeting was attended by the Mayors of Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays, Burk’s Falls, Armour Township, Ryerson Township, Magnetawan and the chair of the District of Muskoka., along with some CAOs.

A release from Miller said the mayors thanked Clark for being accessible to them and for his ministry’s support during the flooding.

Cathy Still, Mayor of Burk’s Falls, thanked him for paying attention to smaller municipalities.

Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith, whose community was particularly hard-hit, said he felt the disaster recovery program had improved since his experience after the 2013 flooding.

Clark said the Ford government “recognized the program needed to be changed and I am pleased to hear the changes have been for the better.

“We will continue to work to improve the program.”

Miller said he and the mayors raised concerns about rebuilding municipal infrastructure to the same standards as in the past given the increasing frequency and severity of flooding.

“Given that we’ve had two ‘hundred-year’ floods in a few years, we need to support municipalities to redesign and rebuild our essential municipal infrastructure so that it will be able to withstand the flooding that is becoming the new normal,” said Miller.

Before the meeting, Clark, Miller and Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison toured some of the Huntsville businesses impacted by the flooding in late April.

“It is great to see that the businesses have been able to reopen in time for the busy summer season,” said Miller. “I want to make sure everyone in Ontario knows that despite this spring’s flooding Muskoka is open for business.”