Quebec residents face betrayal as only nine flood claims are paid

In August 2023, Quebec experienced severe flooding due to the remnants of Hurricane Debby, which caused significant damage across the province. The storm resulted in record-breaking rainfall, with Montreal receiving approximately 150 millimeters of rain in a short period. Following the disaster, the province received around 10,076 claims for financial assistance from residents affected by the flooding. However, by December 2023, the provincial government had approved less than 10 percent of these claims, leading to widespread frustration among the residents seeking assistance. Many residents expressed feelings of abandonment after initially being informed that aid would be provided, only to face significant delays and denials. Despite the Quebec government’s earlier promises to expand financial aid for flood victims, bureaucratic challenges and stricter eligibility criteria have left many without the much-needed support. In Montreal, only nine out of 1,900 flood damage claims were paid, and in Laval, only 21 out of over 2,100 claims received financial assistance. Moreover, the government has provided around $24 million in total reimbursements so far but has turned away many individuals due to insurance coverage issues or claims classified as ineligible. This has contributed to residents feeling increasingly frustrated. Many individuals who suffered property damage from the flooding discovered that their private insurance did not cover the full extent of their losses. Several residents who made claims were informed that their damages were due to sewer backups, which typically fall under private insurance coverage rather than government assistance. Consequently, homeowners like Janice Donnelly, who incurred $45,000 in damages, reported that despite meticulous documentation and hope for assistance, their claims were denied. As awareness of the situation grew, some residents chose not to submit claims at all after realizing the government's assistance program had not adapted sufficiently to meet their needs. Although the situation has improved somewhat, with the number of paid claims rising from 580 in mid-November, the prevailing sentiment among impacted individuals remains one of dissatisfaction with how the government has handled flood support claims since the disaster occurred.