NLIS 4 
September 21, 2001
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
 


The following are speaking notes by Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, at a news conference held today, September 21, 2001.

Financial assistance for property owners affected by tropical storm Gabrielle

"Today I am announcing that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is making application to the Federal Minister of National Defense, who is also the Minister responsible for Emergency Preparedness, for financial assistance with costs related to recent flooding caused by tropical storm Gabrielle.

"If the federal government agrees to the application, residents and businesses will be eligible for financial assistance with essential repairs under the Federal-Provincial Disaster Assistance Program.

"I have spoken with my colleagues, Walter Noel, Joan Marie Aylward, and Lloyd Matthews, who concur that this program is essential to alleviate the cost of damages to private and corporate properties and to assist in repairing municipal infrastructure.

"I feel very confident that the federal government will look favourably on our application based on preliminary discussions.

"I want to emphasize that I am not yet in a position to provide details regarding this program and the process for submitting claims. The process for submitting claims is outlined in procedural guidelines which will be made available after we receive a response from the federal government.

"In the meantime, I can say that the program will only apply to essential repairs and that properties will only be restored to their previous condition. Repairs covered by insurance policies will not be eligible under this program. 

"A disaster assistance team will be set up that will establish guidelines and provide the necessary information and communications to residents and businesses in the area. 

"I would advise people who did receive damage to their property to talk to their insurance companies, engage the services of a professional adjuster to assess the value of such damages and to undertake repairs to their properties. 

"Any repairs eligible under this program will be reimbursed to the owner after completion of the work.

"Under the Federal-Provincial Disaster Assistance Program, the province is responsible for the first $500,000 of expenditures, after which the cost will be shared with the federal government on the basis of a cost-sharing formula.

"Thank you."

Media contact: Sean Kelly, Communications, (709) 729-1983.

2001 09 21                                    12:00 p.m. 


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