RENFREW-NIPPISING-PEMBROKE — At the invitation of Pontiac County Warden Jane Toller, MP Cheryl Gallant attended a meeting of Quebec property owners in neighbouring Pontiac, and met with Andre Fortin Quebec Member of the National Assembly. Later, MP Gallant attended a flood meeting in Mattawa, which included Renfrew County flood victims.
“Many of the Quebec property owners, who are being unfairly treated, are residents of my Ontario riding also. Residents of the Ottawa Valley on both sides of the river are all in this predicament together,” said Cheryl Gallant, Member of Parliament, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.
On December 8th, 2016, the Trudeau Government signed the International Joint Commission’s Plan 2014 which called for raising the water levels in the Great Lakes watershed.
“Canadians understand that draining the local economy by confiscating property values, does nothing to promote culture-based tourism or sustainable nature conservation. A program that will actually benefit flood victims is needed,” said Gallant.
A new decree from the Quebec government prohibits building permits in areas flooded during either 2017 or 2019. Boundaries for flood zones now include properties that did not experience flooding, immediately robbing them of value.
Water is held back in the Ottawa River watershed to allow outflows from the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes watershed.
