MONCTON, July 10, 2008 — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today announced that the Government of Canada provided final payments to the province of New Brunswick through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA). The payments were for flooding which occurred in 1999 and 2000.
“I am pleased to announce that Canada is providing a total of $1,649,000 to New Brunswick to help cover the costs of floods that greatly affected the province,” said Minister Day. “Our government is dedicated to working collaboratively with the provinces and territories when natural disasters strike, and to provide the best assistance possible to Canadians when they need it.”
In the fall of 1999, New Brunswick experienced severe flooding caused by heavy rains in the southern areas of the province. The flooding caused damage to private property and to public works including roads and bridges.
On January 21, 2000, New Brunswick again experienced a storm surge flood causing extensive damage to private property and public infrastructure along the eastern and northern coastlines of the province, along the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait.
Last January, Minister Day announced revised DFAA guidelines to help improve the payment process. The revised DFAA guidelines represent a significant step forward in strengthening emergency management in Canada. They expand the range of eligible expenses for federal assistance to part-time farmers, small business owners and non-profit volunteer groups, and simplify the payment process following a natural disaster. They also support improvements to damaged infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, to help prevent similar damage in the future.
The revised guidelines came into effect on January 1, 2008, and apply to natural disasters on or after that date. The previous guidelines still apply to events which occurred prior to that date.
Since the inception of the DFAA in 1970, the Government of Canada has provided more than $1.8 billion to the provinces and territories in disaster financial assistance.
Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863
