Disaster declaration extended to include more communities

Rainy River Riding

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Chris Hodgson declared the Municipality of Machin, in the Kenora District, a part of the disaster area declared in northwestern Ontario. This means the municipality is eligible for funding under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance program (ODRAP).
Parts of northwestern Ontario experienced severe flooding on June 9, 10 & 11 that caused extensive damage to private properties and local infrastructure in the area.
“The province is committed to helping the residents overcome the effects of this disaster, “ Hodgson said. “We will do what’s necessary to help alleviate the hardship that residents in this area are facing.”
ODRAP is a source of financial aid for losses of essential private property, not covered by insurance, suffered by private homeowners, farmers, small businesses and non-profit organizations. ODRAP guidelines call for the establishment of a local volunteer disaster relief committee to be appointed by the affected municipalities as soon as possible. The committee will be responsible for settling eligible claims made by affected residents at up to 90 per cent. The province has decided to waive the requirement of local fund-raising in this circumstance.
Claim forms for individuals, small businesses and farmers are available at Government Information Centres, municipal offices, the Ontario Disaster Relief Office in Fort Frances and online at www.mah.gov.on.ca. For more information, claimants can call 1-866-282-992 daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“We will provide the financial assistance that’s needed to restore this area to pre-disaster condition as soon as possible,” Hodgson said.
Special assistance of up to 100 per cent will be provided to the municipality to cover eligible costs associated with rebuilding damaged infrastructure.