Quebec calls in Canadian army to assist with ‘historic flooding’
Coiteux warns residents situation likely to get worse and could last for weeks
With flooding in many regions of Quebec about to get worse in the coming days, the provincial government is calling in the Canadian army as reinforcements.
With more rain forecast for the weekend, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux said Friday he reached out to his federal counterpart, Ralph Goodale, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, to request assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces. Goodale was favourable to the request, Coiteux said.
Coiteux did not specify how many troops would be pressed into service to assist local authorities on the ground, but noted they would be deployed where most needed. Some troops are to arrive Saturday.
Although Coiteux applauded the news that more help is on its way, he also had a sobering message for those affected by rising water levels in more than 130 towns and cities across the province.
“It’s already the most serious in a few decades and it’s going to get worse,” he said.
“This is our message today. I’m not happy to say that, but we have to tell Quebecers the truth. It’s going to get worse. Why? Because we’re gonna receive a lot of rainfall over the next three days.”
He also said the situation could “last for a number of weeks.”
More than 1,500 homes across Quebec have been flooded and close to 800 residents have been removed from their homes.
More than 60 Quebec municipalities, including Montreal, Hudson, Île-Perrot and Vaudreuil-Dorion, have been added to the list of those eligible for the province’s disaster aid program.
Coiteux’s own West Island riding of Nelligan includes flooded areas in Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève. The minister said citizens must be prepared to evacuate their homes if necessary.
“If we’re asking them to leave their homes, don’t worry, we’ll be there to protect your property. We’ll be there with police forces. If we’re doing that, it’s for your own safety, for your health, and for the health and safety of your family.”
“I know it tests their patience,” he added. “But we’re on their side, we’re going to work with them.”
Coiteux was flanked by Quebec Environment Minister David Heurtel and other government officials at the press briefing in Montreal.
Heurtel said the flooding is the worst ever recorded in Quebec for the past 55 years, since such data has been kept.
“It’s clear now we’re in the midst of a historic event,” he said. “We’re gonna get through it, as we always do. But we’ll do everything together.”
Asked if Quebecers were simply at the mercy of Mother Nature, Heurtel replied: “That’s it. This is completely a perfect storm. This is climate change multiplied by 10, 20, 1,000. This is like the impacts of extreme weather from this winter and extreme rain.
“Plus, we’ve had constant rain and record levels of rain in April and this (weather) system right now is going to come back on itself so we’re gonna get hit twice by this system,” he added.
“So from Sunday to Wednesday, we’re looking at the worst of it.”
Premier Philippe Couillard also addressed the public via Facebook from the Gaspé region.
“We are now seeing a potential increase in the level of rivers and almost a certainty that the floods are going to get actually worse in the coming days over the next week,” the premier said.
“Given this new reality, we’ve decided to call on the federal government and the armed forces to support the local authorities, the (civil) security, the Red Cross and all the teams working with you to make sure you are safe and your property is safe as well.
“And we will go through this difficult time together.”
Couillard also said he would be leaving the Gaspé shortly to visit a flooded area of Quebec.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered his support to those affected by the flooding in Quebec and Ontario.
Trudeau said his government is “ready to do whatever we can to help people get through this. We intend to be there.”
If we’re asking them to leave their homes, don’t worry, we’ll be there to protect your property.