Victims of the city’s May 28th flood say the money they expect to receive from a special disaster relief fund is shockingly low.
The Thunder Bay Disaster Relief Fund Committee told city council Monday night that the province was only matching 20 cents to every dollar it has raised. The city brought in more than $1.5 million for the relief efforts with the province so far providing around $300,000.
Meanwhile, claims total about $4.2 million, with the city only eligible for is $1.8 million in disaster relief cash.
That would mean the most an average homeowner could receive for their claim would be about $5,000.
John Duczynski, who filed a claim near $40,000, said he was shocked by how much he was actually going to receive.
“For the amount they say we’re going to get, there’s no way you can do a full finished basement like we had before,” he said. “We didn’t win the lottery on this. We just want our lives back.
“They were dangling a carrot in front of everybody’s faces and now the carrot is gone.”
Duczynski has lived on Spofford Avenue since 1996 and now lives with his son, his son’s girlfriend and his seven-month-old grandchild.
A 2008 flood left Duczynski in a home that insurance companies refused to cover.
The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program guidelines have a limit on how much someone can file a claim.
For example, the ODRAP limits for a family of four for a couch is $450 and $400 for a double bed. The limit for a washer and dryer is at $470 and $400.
He said he understood some of the limits because not everyone had new appliances, but still complains that the amount being offered wouldn’t be enough to bring his house back to where it was before the May flood.
He also voiced his disappointment that the province wasn’t contributing two-for-one.
“That was one of the main selling points for everyone to donate,” he said. “As long as I get enough to get our lives back to normal I’ll be happy with that.”
Duczynski’s neighbour, Rita Barrie, said she was also disappointed.
She was able to fix her basement in September, but found out two months ago that her house had shifted out of place. She and her family were not allowed into their home for a few months following the flooding disaster as it was deemed condemned.
The ordeal has been financially devastating, and she now says she doesn’t believe $5,000 is suitable compensation from a disaster relief committee.
“There were a lot of people like us that lost a lot of stuff,” Barrie said. “We lost everything down there. I was condemned, I had to pay my mortgage, my bills and had to pay for another place to stay so to me that’s just pennies because we suffered.”
MPP Michael Gravelle (Lib. Thunder Bay – Superior North) defended the province’s response to the flood, saying Ontario’s government was quick to come to the assistance of residents.
He pointed out that then premier Dalton McGuinty announced funding of about $17 million to relief.
Although the province is willing to provide more, Gravelle said they have to work within the rules that are outlined.
“I don’t want to put the fault on anyone,” Gravelle said. “The fact is there was the possibility that the eligibility could be two-for-one. I was speaking in those terms as well. The disaster relief committee was working with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and was aware of some of the challenges associated with the funding, but that is not in any way to suggest that there’s blame for this.”
Gravelle promised that those who are need would receive aid and said he hoped that more money would be available than what’s being projected.
More than 760 residents filed for losses and damages by the Oct. 31 deadline but only 449 were eligible.
Gravelle added the discussions with the ministry will also include making the guidelines less strict.
