Marie-Claude Nichols, independent MNA for Vaudreuil, tabled a motion in the Salon rouge on Wednesday, calling on the government to take into consideration the various measures put in place by municipalities within the new regulatory framework for flood-prone areas. 

Tabled jointly with Virginie Dufour, Liberal MNA for Mille-Îles, Andrés Fontecilla, Solidarity MNA for Laurier-Dorion, and Pascal Paradis, PQ MNA for Jean-Talon, the motion did not receive the consent of the CAQ MNAs for debate.

In recent days, the CMM tabled its brief as part of the public consultations on the proposed modernization of the regulatory framework for water environments. According to the document, if no changes are made to the regulations tabled last June by the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, no fewer than 1,700 buildings would be located in flood-prone zones in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges municipalities included in the CMM.

The motion presented by the MNA for Vaudreuil, asked the National Assembly to take note of the considerable increase in the number of homes and establishments affected by the new mapping:

“That it stresses that these residences and establishments will be negatively impacted by a loss of value and major difficulties in being financed and insured;

That the right to own property is still in effect in Quebec;

That the government must act responsibly in this matter;

That it ask the government to consider the efforts of property owners to minimize risks and increase the resilience of buildings;

That, finally, the National Assembly ask the government to ensure that measures to protect property in flood-prone areas and flood risk mitigation measures put in place by municipalities and proven during past flood episodes be considered in the new regulatory framework in order to limit the impact on the resale value of affected buildings and ensure access to financing and insurance.”

“The new regulatory framework that frames the flood zone mapping tabled by the CAQ is completely insensitive to the situation of many citizens. As a result, property values are falling drastically, and owners are finding it difficult to finance and insure their buildings. The purpose of my motion was to raise the government's awareness. The CAQ's refusal demonstrates once again that this government is not on the ground and is not listening to the public,” laments the MNA for Vaudreuil.

Also read:

Flood zones: “Let municipalities take responsibility” - Guy Pilon

CMM: more than 1,700 buildings in flood zones in Vaudreuil-Soulanges