(A Brief Note from Niagara At Large – Check out the reference to climate change in the third paragraph of this media release.
While the climate change deniers out there continue to oppose any policies or plans that involve shifting away from oil and other carbon-emitting sources of energy, the costs we are all paying for property destruction, escalating insurance premiums and food prices due to an every higher frequency of severe flooding, drought, wildfires, wind and hail storms and other climate-related disasters are becoming ever more unsustainable.
The Harper government never factors these costs in to its pitch for staying the course on expanding the tar sands expansion.)
News from the Ontario Government
Province to Better Support Individuals and Municipalities Following Natural Disasters
Queen’s Park, August, 2015) – Ontario is making it easier and faster for municipalities and individuals to get financial assistance following natural disasters.
Requests for provincial disaster assistance have doubled in the last five years and are expected to continue to rise due to climate change. As a result, the province is replacing the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program with two new programs that will be more responsive to the needs of individuals and communities following a natural disaster.
The new Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance program will help municipalities address extraordinary emergency response costs and damage to essential property or infrastructure like bridges, roads and public buildings, as a result of a natural disaster. Going forward, municipalities will be given four months rather than 14 days to assess costs and request provincial assistance, so that they have time to focus on emergency response after a disaster occurs.
The new Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program will provide faster assistance to individuals, small businesses, farmers and not-for-profit organizations who have experienced damage to, or loss of, essential property as a result of a natural disaster. The program will also do away with the current requirement for municipal volunteers to fundraise for matching provincial assistance.
The province will launch the new programs in early 2016. Municipalities may continue to access the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program until the new programs come into effect.
Providing assistance after natural disasters is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.
Quick Facts
- The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program was created in 1965 and provides support for municipalities, individuals, small businesses, farmers and non-profit organizations to respond to emergencies and replace essential property.
- Detailed information and eligibility criteria for the new programs will be made available in early 2016.
- The two new replacement programs were created after an extensive review of Ontario’s current disaster recovery program.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“Our communities are facing more natural disasters each year as a result of climate change. With these two new programs, we will get much-needed financial assistance into the hands of the people who need it most in a way that is faster, fairer and more transparent.”
Ted McMeekin , Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
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