FQM still not satisfied with Special Intervention Zone decree

The Quebec Federation of Municipalities (FQM) acknowledges the improvements made recently by the Quebec government in the new, recently adopted version of the Decree on the declaration of a Special Intervention Zone (ZIS) for the 210 municipalities affected by severe flooding this spring. Nevertheless, it deplores the fact that some municipalities, whose territory has been little or not at all affected by the floods, cannot withdraw from the ZIS and the uncertainty caused by the absence of delays in the treatment of requests for specific exemptions.

"The government had no choice but to amend the decree it introduced on June 22,” says FQM President Richard Lehoux. “It did not take into account the very different contexts of one municipality compared to another. Considering the new costs of rebuilding buildings, rather than their land value, and by not imposing a limit on the severance allowance, the government is now taking into account the different realities of municipalities. However, this decree lacks flexibility, and does not allow municipalities that have not been affected to withdraw from the ZIS,"

The Federation would have preferred that the government include a withdrawal clause in its decree for those municipalities that have not suffered damage to residences or buildings during the spring floods. The most striking example is that of the municipality of Deschambault-grondines in the National Capital \region, which is on the list because it requested information about purchasing sandbags from the Ministry of Public Security. Moreover, the FQM condemns the fact that there is no precision as to the time for processing individual exemptions, whereas this is the case for collective derogations.

"By maintaining the vagueness with regard to this category of citizens, the government perpetuates their sense of insecurity. They are given the impression that they do not have the same value as residents from densely populated areas. In both cases, the psychological distress is the same," concludes Lehoux.

Since its foundation in 1944, the FQM has established itself as the indispensible interlocutor for the municipalities and regions of Quebec. Its constant aim is to defend municipal autonomy and favours relations on a human scale and draws its inspiration from the spirit of consultation and innovation of its some 1,000 municipalities and MRC members.