Gatineau flood victims' frustrations spilling over

Flood victims in Gatineau who have been asked to leave their homes are speaking out about what they call the province of Quebec's slow response.

In the Pointe-Gatineau sector, Mylne Bigras's rue Ren home was condemned by firefighters, who declared the structure too fragile. Speaking in French to Radio-Canada, she said the city has also prohibited her from building in the same place.

"We're left completely in the dark," said Bigras. "You go to bed at night, you cry, because you wake up the next day and you don't know what you're going to do."

"We need to move on to a new stage in our lives I hope that they don't leave us like this for months," she said, tearfully. "I'm not sure everyone is patient enough to wait. There are a lot of people who say they don't understand why that government hasn't budged We're left to ourselves."

To move on, she said, it'll take government help.

Still in the dark about government assistance

"(The government) needs to move.Mr. (Philippe) Couillard, Mr. (Justin) Trudeau, it's correct what they say and the aid they're sending, but they're not living this, at this moment, they're not staying in a garage," she said.

Others inPointe-Gatineauare also struggling.

"We're waiting for contractors to give us estimates to be able to move forward. Let's say, at the beginning we had our advances very, very fast. It looks as though everything has stopped, that's the impression I get in any case. We wait for the government to give us the OK to continue and make the repairs," explained Louise David. "We're still uncertain."

The biggest question for flood victims is how much will the government provide in assistance.

"I'd like to know, if we buy a home in Gatineau, if we're going to have to pay the land transfer tax. Because it's not us who are moving, but the government of Quebec is moving us." wondered Marcel Thriault, who can't reconstruct in hishome's current location because it's in a flood zone. "They tell us nothing."

The director of recovery efforts for Quebec's ministry of public security, Denis Landry, said the province has set up temporary offices in Gatineau to facilitate faster payments for flood victims.

Funds will be distributed rapidly, ministry says

"If people need to, they can call us at 1-888-643-2433 so we can set up appointments in the coming days," said Landry, who added immediate relief is available to those who visit the temporary offices. "We can make a direct deposit within 24 hours or the can leave with cheque in hand."

The Quebec government is transferring $750,000 daily for flood relief, he said, and that figure will rise to $1-million in the coming days.

If people need to, they can call us at 1-888-643-2433 so we can set up appointments in the coming days.- Denis Landry, director of relief efforts for the Quebec ministry of public security

The amount of money people are entitled to will depend on their situation, but Landry said funds will be distributed rapidly, whether victims need to purchase a new home, re-build or repair their current residence.

"We can already give them a good amount of money so they can start thinking of buying a new home," said Landry, who added flood victims can qualify for total reimbursement for the cost of demolishing their homes, the cost of abandoning their land up to $50,000 as well as costs associated with moving and temporary lodging.