---Quebec announces plan and funding to update mapping of flood-prone areas

Amy Mehta

A $90,000 grant has been given to Gatineau and the Regional County Municipalities (MRC) of Papineau, Pontiac and Collines-de-L'Outaouais to update the flood zone mapping. On May 28, 2021, Deputy for Papineau and Minister of Families, also responsible for the Outaouais region, Mathieu Lacombe spoke alongside Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister Responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Region, Andrée Laforest, announcing the $90,000 contribution that will be divided among Gatineau and the MRCs of Papineau, Pontiac, and Collines-de-l‘Outaouais. 

The purpose of these funds is to update the mapping of the areas in the territory that are flood-prone, while also considering risk management.  “To ensure the safety of citizens and the protection of our living environments in the face of flooding, it is crucial that the mapping of flood-prone areas be updated,” said Andrée Laforest.

It is a part of the implementation of measure three contained in the plan for the protection of the territory in the event that flooding occurs yet again. The hazards will be mapped at the watershed scale. ”Updating the mapping of flood-prone areas in the Outaouais region, taking into account risk management, is a concrete measure that will undoubtedly not only allow us to learn more about the problems of flooding but will also contribute to better management of flood-prone areas,” said Mathieu Lacombe, MNA of Papineau. 

Additionally, a sum of $8,000,000 will be distributed among all of the municipal organizations that needed financial support in 2018. Out of that sum, $2,790,000 has been granted to 14 municipal organizations that include Ville de Gatineau and the MRCs of Papineau, Pontiac, and Collines-de-l‘Outaouais and will be paid during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 fiscal years.