Quebec suffering ‘extremely difficult’ wave of severe weather, minister says

QUÉBEC — Quebec is experiencing an “extremely difficult” period of climate-related disasters, Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said Wednesday, as residents across several regions cleaned up from another episode of severe rainfall.

Bonnardel spoke to reporters from Ste-Julienne, Que., a small community 55 kilometres north of Montreal that was one of many Quebec municipalities hit by torrential rain last week. It was his first press conference since Friday’s rainfall, and came following a meeting with mayors from the region.

Bonnardel said the situation has improved in recent days, but 34 municipalities and 53 roads are still affected by the record-breaking rainfall. “I know it’s extremely hard for many citizens who’ve lost everything and who have to resort to their private insurance,” he said.

The minister said Quebec has suffered from a number of extreme weather events in the last several years, including intense spring flooding in 2017 and 2019 and forest fires last summer.

“We are experiencing extremely difficult climatic situations,” he said. “I’m telling people that we sympathize, we are with them.”

Bonnardel pointed to the Quebec government’s disaster financial assistance program, which has been made available to 123 communities affected by the rainfall. As of Tuesday 700 people had completed an online form to apply for funds, he said.

Bonnardel also called on insurance companies to “be present” for their customers. “Respond, add additional staff, because people need answers, need to talk to someone,” he said.

On Wednesday, insurance company Beneva compared the situation to the ice storm of 1998, when there was a spike in the number of insurance claims. In a statement Monday, a spokesperson for Desjardins said thousands of people insured with the company were reporting damage to homes and cars.

“This isn’t something we often see in terms of volume,” Véronique Breton said in an email statement. “It’s an exceptional situation.”

The Quebec government has set aside more than $5.6 billion for municipalities to improve their infrastructure and protect against bank erosion, Bonnardel told reporters. “We are putting in significant amounts of money,” he said. “Now it’s also up to the municipalities to act and collect these amounts.”

The remnants of tropical storm Debby caused major damage in Quebec, flooding thousands of homes and washing out roads. More than 550,000 customers lost power during the height of the storm Friday evening, which dumped up to 200 millimetres of rain in a 24-hour period.

The worst-hit regions include the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, where several landslides have been reported.

In June, another episode of torrential rain in Lanaudière washed out roads and isolated people in their homes after 120 mm of rain fell over 36 hours.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2024.

— With files from Maura Forrest in Montreal.

Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press