30 September 2009
Flood Relief Denied to Hamilton Victims
Miller demands to know why Province fails to provide assistance

QUEEN'S PARK—Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MPP Paul Miller is demanding to know why the McGuinty Liberals denied Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) funding to Hamilton’s flood victims.

“The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has the final say about who receives disaster relief funding and with vague ODRAP guidelines for municipalities to follow, it is a crap shoot process,” said Miller.

“Municipalities should be able to apply for disaster relief without reference to any other monies that may have flowed to the City from other provincial programs. They have nothing to do with each other and ODRAP is the only game in town for these victims.”

The program is designed precisely to help residents pay for uninsured damages arising from catastrophic events, like the more than $20-million value of uninsured damages arising from the July flood.

“That this program ignores the individual and considers what the municipality can do, it does not in any way support those who so desperately need the help,” Miller said.

“ODRAP needs a complete overhaul to ensure that individuals are considered separately from municipal properties in the event of uninsured damages due to a catastrophic natural disaster like the one we had.”

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Media Contact: Paul Miller (416) 325-0707

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