Chris Lowrey
FORT COULONGE July 10, 2017
Pontiacers affected by this spring’s flooding got more answers to their questions on Monday as several levels of government held a question and answer session at the Spruceholme Inn in Fort Colounge.
Representatives from Quebec municipal affairs, the ministry of public safety and local levels of government laid out the plans for those who are looking to reconstruct their homes after suffering flood damage.

The province, under the act respecting land use, planning and development, plans to create special planning zones (SPZ).
These zones are created to solve development and environmental problems that the government has determined warrants its special intervention.
In light of this spring’s flooding, the Quebec government has decided to create a special planning zone for 211 municipalities affected throughout the province.
The goal is to adequately manage flood risks in the context of climate change by reducing the number of people and property exposed to flooding in the future.
In the Outaouais region alone, there are 37 municipalities that will have special planning zones created.
There are basically three types of flood zones. A 0-2 year flood zone has a 50 per cent chance of flooding any given year, a 2-20 year flood zone has a five per cent chance of flooding any given year and the 20-100 year flood zone has a one per cent chance of flooding any given year.
Those who live in a 0-20 year flood zone will be affected by the new special planning zone.
Those who live in this flood zone who have sustained more than 50 per cent of their home’s value in damage will not be able to rebuild on the same property. In some cases, special exceptions can be made but that will be on a case-by-case basis.
For those who have sustained damage in the 0-20 year flood plain, they must have their house appraised by either the ministry of public safety or a claims adjustor that is recognized by the province.
Once the appraisal is done, the damage to the home is calculated. If the damage amounts to more than 50 per cent of the appraised value of the home, reconstruction will be denied if the home is in the 20-year flood zone.
For those with damage costing less than 50 per cent of the value of their home, they can rebuild.
Municipalities will give final approval for reconstruction once the appraisal has been completed.
In exceptional cases, the municipality can request an exemption from Quebec municipal affairs. For example, an exemption could be made for a principal residence that has lost between 50 and 65 per cent of its value.
Municipalities have 18 months to apply for an exemption.
In the case of an exemption, the municipality will approach municipal affairs, who will then consult with a committee of independent experts made up of urban planners and environmental and water management experts.
The committee will then give a recommendation to municipal affairs which will be passed along to the municipality and homeowner.
After the presentation, the floor was opened to questions from residents.
Norma Valiquette from the Municipality of Pontiac was concerned about the access road to her property. It’s a private road so she was unsure if the municipality would be able to help. She was told to talk to the claims adjustor on site.
Other residents on hand questioned the accuracy of the appraisals being done on homes.
Ovila Labonté, also from the Municipality of Pontiac, said the adjustor showed up to his home wearing six-inch boots. He said the reporters who were covering the flood came better prepared for the water levels than the adjustor did, which didn’t inspire confidence.
Labonté said that when the inspector came, his home’s footings were under water, which made it tough to get a full idea of the extent of the damage.
“How are they supposed to do an evaluation if the footings are under a foot-and-a-half of water?” Labonté asked. “He must have been a rocket scientist.”