Goodale tours Ottawa area hit by tornado, says feds ready to help

DUNROBIN, ONT. — Canada’s public safety minister says the federal government is playing a supporting role to provinces and municipalities as they back recovery efforts for communities battered last week by multiple tornadoes in the national capital region.

Ralph Goodale toured the Ontario community of Dunrobin, west of Ottawa, where locals are still reeling after a powerful tornado ripped through the town. He said some of the modern homes hit hardest in the area looked like they had gone “through a grinder.”

Environment Canada says six tornadoes swept across the Ottawa area and through the neighbouring Quebec region on Friday — levelling homes and knocking out power grids along their way.

Conrad Sauve, the president of the Canadian Red Cross, said Tuesday that more than 1,500 people in Quebec and Ontario had registered with the organization. He said the Red Cross had provided shelter to over 600 residents, primarily in the Quebec city of Gatineau.

Goodale said the federal government has not provided financial assistance because the first portion of response and recovery costs are covered by the provinces. But Ottawa will step up if the price tag reaches a certain level, he said.

Federal assistance after largescale natural disasters is determined by a formula under Canada’s Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers have been in tornado-ravaged areas to ease pressure on local forces, Goodale said. He added there was an informal request for federal help with surveillance and mapping of impacted areas.

For many people in the Ottawa and Gatineau areas, the road to recovery will be a long journey.