The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion supports a petition launched by a group of citizens concerning the new regulations surrounding the new mapping of flood-prone areas.

Launched on February 19 by a citizen, the document calls on Quebec to postpone the coming into force of the proposed regulations, to add, as recommended by the Protecteur du citoyen, a simple process for requesting map revisions, to modify the high risk rating of future maps, and to develop a guide and process for recognizing individual and collective protective structures.

Available on the National Assembly website, the petition has 311 signatures to date.

If the by-law were to be adopted today, more than 2,000 homes in Vaudreuil-Soulanges would find themselves in flood-prone zones. In Vaudreuil-Dorion alone, 1,207 buildings would be affected, including the water filtration plant and the Cité-des-Jeunes campus, to name but a few. For the portion of Vaudreuil-Soulanges included in the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), over 1,700 properties are said to be affected. 

In its current version, the new bylaw would prohibit all construction in flood-prone areas, but would also prohibit the implementation of protective measures for existing buildings. For example, a homeowner wishing to insulate the floor of his residence would not be able to do so under the new regulations. It goes without saying that insurance and mortgage issues will also compromise the resale of homes. 

First petition rejected

On January 30, in parliamentary committee, the elected representatives of the National Assembly decided not to follow up on a petition along the same lines, with nearly 2,400 signatories.

At the time, Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard explained that revising flood zone regulations is an essential measure for adapting to climate change. “Our government has submitted for consultation a science-based regulatory framework for activities permitted in flood-prone areas, as well as a methodological framework that will enable us to produce up-to-date maps,” she told Néomédia.

For her part, Marie-Claude Nichols, independent Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil, described the CAQ's refusal as a total lack of interest in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, but more specifically in the riding of Vaudreuil, where the most affected towns are located.

As for the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion, on Monday February 24, the council adopted a resolution supporting the new petition, and undertook to send a copy of the resolution to the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, the MNA for Vaudreuil, the Union des municipalités du Québec and the Fédération québécoise des municipalités.  

The petition is available on the National Assembly website until May 19.