In the wake of the disastrous floods in the provinces of Manitoba and Québec, one of the first things Parliament should do when it begins sitting is to work towards developing a new and effective national flood strategy. Development of such a strategy is of great importance because a vast majority of Canada’s population is located around lakes, rivers, and streams. This close proximity to these bodies of water puts many people, including the residents of Cornwall in potential risk.
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At the least, Parliament owes those currently affected by the floods adequate discussions, dedicated debates, and an explanation to Canadians as to exactly what the federal government is planning on doing to aid the provincial governments in aiding with their flood relief efforts.
At the least, Parliament owes those currently affected by the floods adequate discussions, dedicated debates, and an explanation to Canadians as to exactly what the federal government is planning on doing to aid the provincial governments in aiding with their flood relief efforts.
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Stéphane Groulx – Cornwall Ontario
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At least make it mandatory for real estate listings to declare if a property is on a flood plain or not. If someone knowingly buys a property on a flood plain and it floods, then it is up to the insurance company to pay damages and not the government.
I agree with Reg. The real estate people need to do more “due diligence” on the properties that they are selling. Insurance companies won’t sell you earthquake insurance if your house sits on a fault line, the same should be said of flooding. The government cannot be held accountable because someone made the decision to build their house on a flood plain! This is a “no-brainer”.
The reason so many communities are located around lakes and rivers was due to manufacturing. Industry needed water for processes and so grew the town.
If an individual willingly buys property near lakes and rivers I would hope they can surmise the potential for flood exists. It is no different than buying a home in Tornado alley.
Southern Manitoba has been in flooding situations every year as springs passes. If people choose to remain in the area it should be the people who pay for damages incurred….or just move away.
Insurance should not have to pay for a person choosing to build a home in these areas.
You know, I agree with Reg and Stan both on the issue of real estate listing if a property is prone to floods, but I also strongly agree with smee, if knowingly in a floodzone, then insurance should not be responsible… weird day today, must be the rain…
You can always do an insurance check on a property; the same way you would for an energy check; IE calling the electric company and see how much was spent in the last 12 months….
Cornwall (probably) is less at risk of a 1 in one hundred years storm / run off because of controls along the river and land levels.
We need to be careful how much responsibity we put on others, the lawyer should be doing a certain level of due dilgence along with the insurance company but the purchaser is going to live there.
I think the governments have enough bilingual documents to form miles of pile’s of flow redirecting sand bags already, put them to better use!
Insurance companies are the perfect institution to pay for flood damage. That’s what we pay for. The higher the risk, the higher the premiums. That’s what we call free enterprise. You would think a hard line con-con would understand that.