Federal Support to Flooding

May 8, 2017 – 12:00 p.m. EDT

Over the past 24 hours, the Government of Canada has:

• Accepted a request for assistance from the Government of Ontario to provide 250,000 sandbags. The Government Operations Centre has dedicated officials who are working closely with federal and provincial partners to coordinate the delivery of this assistance;
• Deployed an additional 800 Canadian Armed Forces troops to support affected citizens in Quebec, and committed an additional 300 personnel, bringing the total number of troops to 1,650. Emergency response work is ongoing, and in some places relief work has begun. Flooding levels are expected to stabilize in the next few days in Quebec.
• In order to reduce traffic congestion and allow emergency services to help those in need, Government of Canada employees who normally travel over the interprovincial bridges in the National Capital Region were advised to stay home and seek alternate work arrangements on Monday; and
• In addition, all federal buildings in Gatineau are closed Monday. Advised federal workers in the Gatineau area to avoid flooded areas and seek alternate work arrangements, as needed. 

More rain is expected in British Colombia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Citizens are asked to exercise caution and impacted residents should continue to follow the directions and advice of their municipal law enforcement and first responders.

Summary of Events

• On May 5, 2017, the Minister of Public Safety accepted a formal request for federal assistance from the Government of Quebec.
• The Government Operations Centre, on behalf of the Government of Canada, is leading the coordination of the federal response to the flooding situation in Ontario and Quebec. Officials continue to work closely with federal and provincial partners on the specifics of this assistance. 
• A total of approximately 1650 Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been deployed to support Quebec citizens in the four affected regions (Montérégie, Outaouais, Mauricie and Montréal) and coordination efforts. Troops, along with aviation assets, engineer assets, and 12 boats from the Naval Reserve, are positioned to support and react to the needs identified.
• Canadian Forces support includes: helicopter support, filling sandbags, transporting affected citizens, maritime patrols; building dikes; helping repair broken pumps, and providing assistance to the Red Cross in shelter areas.
• Approximately 2800 residents have voluntarily evacuated their homes. There have been mandatory evacuations from the Quebec Municipalities of Pontiac, Rigaud and  Montreal:
  • Ahuntsic-Cartierville
  • L'Ile-Bizard-Sainte Geneviève
  • Pierrefonds-Roxboro
  • Sainte-Anne-de Bellevue
  • Senneville
• Transport Canada is closely monitoring water levels in affected areas for bridge clearance related to commercial and ferry operations, and has imposed vessel speed restrictions on affected waterways. 

Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) on Twitter.

For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

Information:

Scott Bardsley
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
(613) 991-0657

Date modified:

2017-05-08