Published September 5, 2024

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Thanks to the vigilance of the City of Gatineau and district councillor Alicia Lacasse-Brunet, Bellevue residents impacted by sewage backflow from tropical storm Debby are now able to apply for financial assistance from the Government of Quebec.

“The recent sewer backups in our neighbourhood have had a major impact on many homes, and I’d like to express my full solidarity with those affected,” said Lacasse-Brunet.

The passage of tropical storm Debby brought heavy rains on August 9 and 10, causing extensive flooding and soil movement in the southern portion of the province. Quebec’s Minister of Public Security François Bonnardel quickly announced that financial assistance would be available for eligible municipalities under the General Disaster Financial Assistance Program.

The assistance program works as a last resort measure to support those impacted by certain disasters that do not fall under insurance policies. Expenses like temporary preventive measures, damage to eligible personal property, and emergency work would qualify for financial assistance and compensation.

Almost a week later, the minister clarified the terms and conditions of the assistance program and invited disaster victims who were unsure of their eligibility to submit a claim. Bonnardel reminded citizens to first look to their private insurer before seeking additional assistance through the government program.

“Insurers must assume their responsibilities and compensate citizens according to the terms of their insurance policy. Now, in some cases, we understand that the causes of the losses experienced by several citizens are multiple. That’s why we’ll be looking closely at claims involving mixed causes, such as overflowing waterways leading to sewer backups,” Bonnardel wrote in a press release.

When the rain was at its heaviest, Lacasse-Brunet was on the ground to relay citizens’ concerns and observations to the municipal teams “to ensure a rapid, coordinated response.”

“I’d like to thank Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette for her support and proactivity. She was able to get all the stakeholders around the table to get clear explanations of the situation and plan the next steps, in addition to offering an information session to citizens,” said the Bellevue district councillor.

In a press briefing on August 21, Marquis-Bissonnette told reporters that city crews were tending to the damage.

“There are several explanations for the sewer backup in (the Zone Blanche) sector but what is clear is it’s a situation that is not acceptable. We will have to propose a certain number of actions,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “We are in the process of developing an action plan for this sector in particular. There will be short-term actions and longer-term actions to ensure that the situation is resolved.”

Among the actions undertaken or planned for the neighbourhood were inspections of the sanitary network’s observation shafts and sewer covers, installing a flow restrictor on the splash pad at Roberval Park, as well as having teams carry out random inspections during heavy rain to find homes with illegal foundation drain connections, which are the source of network saturation.

Photo caption: Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette says city crews are on the ground dealing with the damage inflicted by tropical storm Debby.

Photo credit: Screenshot of Mêlée de presse du 21 août 2024 – Comité exécutif

Scroll to Top