A dike against the flood required

File Photo Martin Alarie
The floods of last spring have affected the 262 municipalities in the province. In total, 5371 main residences have been affected and 4066 evacuees.

Anne Caroline Desplanques

Tuesday, 17 October 2017 21:24

UPDATE
Tuesday, 17 October 2017 21:24

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The elected representatives of Two-Mountains ask Quebec to erect a dike to protect the town of spring flooding.

It would be a dike vegetated built directly into the lake of Two Mountains, in the north suburb of Montreal.

“This type of dike fitted also allows you to prevent or at least minimize, the consequences of the flood waters,” according to mayor Denis Martin.

A dike similar to protected the neighbouring city of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, where three homes were flooded last spring, compared to 275 in Two-Mountains.

Concerned citizens

“People currently are rebuilding and they have concerns about what will happen in the spring. They wonder if it is worth the time to rebuild, ” said Mr. Martin.

Sylvie d’amours, mna for Mirabel, press Quebec to act before winter settles in and prevents to undertake the work. “These are human lives that are at stake “, she insists.

In the Face of the anguish popular, the government “does not give itself the tools to prevent a similar situation from happening again,” critique Benoit Charette, deputy for deux-Montagnes.

Bureaucracy

Mr. Charette pointed out that more than 2000 citizens have signed a petition urging the province to build the dam.

“The government’s response takes the form of a silent heartbreaking “, he laments.

Ms. Love indicated that there are currently two years of waiting for the ministry of the Environment to obtain a certificate of authorization for the required work in Two-Mountains.

This is also the case in Pointe-Calumet, where the dam 40-year-old, weakened by the flood, threatening to give in, ” said the politician.

Two-Mountains, claimed that Quebec takes the majority of the costs of the building. The bill would amount to a little less than a million dollars, which is less than the cost of the floods in the municipality, according to mayor Martin.

Quebec pays on average$ 70 Million per year in compensation to victims of flood, which amount may increase in the face of climate change, warns the Ouranos consortium.

The ministry of Environment has not responded to questions from the Journal.