West Islanders relieved by Quebec’s revised at-risk map

Province agrees to remove residences that have not been affected by flooding

Following weeks of backlash from several municipalities in the West Island, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs revised its highly contested flood-risk map on Monday by removing residences in the boroughs of Dorval, Pointe-Claire and Beaconsfield from the at-risk zone.

“The original flood-risk map was just broad strokes,” said Greg Kelley, MNA for the Jacques-Cartier riding. “But now, with the revisions, the residences that were not supposed to be in the risk zone have been taken off.”

When the ministry published the first draft of the flood-risk map in June, more than 200 property owners in the West Island who were not affected by the historic floods of 2017 or 2019 found their properties in a delineated at-risk area called the zone d’intervention spécial (ZIS). According to a decree released by the ministry, owners of properties within the ZIS were restricted from building, renovating or making major changes to their properties.

Because the map included homes that never experienced any flooding in the West island area, many owners filed complaints with their municipalities, expressing concern that their designation on the map would diminish their property values.

This, in turn, caused an uproar among borough officials. Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor Jim Beis said the early drafts of the map caused major grief to anyone trying to build or renovate in the atrisk area. Marie-Claude Nichols, the MNA for the Vaudreuil riding, which includes several of the areas affected by the two floods, slammed the government’s approach to the flood map, saying it did not properly consult citizens. Meanwhile, Beaconsfield mayor Georges Bourelle said his borough was not harmed by flooding in recent years, so its inclusion in the at-risk area was senseless.

“I thought it was ridiculous from the start,” Bourelle said. “Not only would lakeside properties lose their value, but it would also mean more taxes for everybody else.”

Last Friday, several West Island mayors made the trek to Quebec City to plead their case with Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest. The result? A revised flood-risk map that completely excluded properties in Dorval, Pointe-Claire and Beaconsfield, as well as limited the scope of the at-risk areas in other boroughs.

For the most part, West Island officials are pleased with the outcome.

“Not only did Ms. Laforest listen to what we had to say, but she also took action and removed all 197 Beaconsfield residences from the flood-risk map,” Bourelle said.

“We continued to state our case to the ministry, pointing out that none of the 15 Pointe-Claire properties still targeted by the decree on flood zones were flooded in 2017 or 2019,” said Pointe-Claire mayor John Belvedere in a statement. “On behalf of these citizens, we’re delighted that our efforts were successful.”

Said Nichols: “While I’m upset it took so long for the ministry to consult the mayors, I’m happy with the revisions. There’s still work that needs to be done with flood prevention, though.”

Kelley agrees.

“The flood issue is still far from being resolved, as there are still people out there living in hotels or in their parents’ homes,” he said. “It’s important that their voices are heard, too.”

To see the map, visit www.cehq. gouv.qc.ca.