Today was a great day for the residents of Burlington and Halton who were hit hard by the severe flooding during the summer. I was proud to be with my colleague, MPP Eleanor McMahon, along with Mayor Rick Goldring and Regional Chair Gary Carr to announce provincial funding of up to $3 million for those affected by the flooding. Ron Foxcroft and Colleen Mulholland were also on hand. Here are some excerpts from my remarks at the announcement. Were here today to talk about the Ontario government’s response to the heavy flooding that took place throughout Burlington, in early August. I know that for some, August may seem like a long time ago. But for those still dealing with the aftermath and destruction of that heavy summer storm, the memories are still very fresh, and the clean-up is still ongoing. I saw those clean up efforts first-hand. Flooded basements. Home owners lugging furniture, destroyed household items and bags of soiled clothing up from their basements and out onto their lawns and driveways. It was quite a sight. So much destruction. So much hard work. So much sadness. But what I remember most, isn’t really the destruction of furniture and homes, instead what sticks out in my mind are the looks on the faces of the people who lived in those homes. It’s the looks of despair, exhaustion and helplessness, that I will never forget. To help these residents with their clean-up efforts, I’m pleased to say that our government will be providing up to $3 million in funding, under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. This money will provide direct financial assistance to individuals, small businesses, farmers, and non-profit organizations in the affected areas. It will essentially give those who qualify a helping hand, so that they can make the necessary repairs and replace lost property. You know, in the days immediately following the flooding – I went out with the Red Cross to survey the damage and get a look at how the response was being handled. After knocking on doors and speaking with people who had been severely affected, I was deeply touched by their stories of personal loss. But I was also inspired by the stories of how communities and neighbours were coming together in the wake of such a challenging situation. It was amazing. I’m sure I speak for all of us here when I say that I simply cannot give enough thanks to those who immediately stepped-up to offer assistance: Local officials… like Mayor Goldring, and Regional Chair Gary Carr, first responders – including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics – Neighbours, and even friendly strangers. Nobody hesitated to roll-up their sleeves and lend a hand. They were out there – clearing debris. Helping to move damaged furniture to the curb side. And going from house to house, knocking on doors to make sure everyone was ok. This city’s incredible resiliency in the face of such difficulty was truly inspiring. So I want to say thank you. Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you for your help. And thank you for caring about your neighbours and friends when they are in need. Now, our government will be doing it’s best to match the remarkable response that has already taken place at the local level. People need to feel whole again. This region needs to be made whole again. This funding will help get us there.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 02:19:11 +0000
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