To the Editor:
Over the past few months, the Province's handling of flood recovery operations and the accessibility of the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) have played a prominent role in many media stories.
I want to correct some of the information that might misleadingly suggest that this Gov-ernment is not adequately responding to the needs of residents of the flood-stricken communities.
The Province has already taken a number of actions to help speed assistance to the residents of Yorkton. As you know $3,000 Special Early Advance Payments were made to help PDAP claimants in your community start the process of recovery right away. Additionally, independent adjusting companies are in the community to assist PDAP with the first steps in the claims process. These adjusters are well-trained and understand the needs of individuals who are in a stressful situation.
PDAP staff is meeting weekly with affected residents to help them with their questions and concerns. A service standard has been set so that responses are provided within 48 hours of the initial inquiry. At the same time, meetings between Corrections, Public Safety and Policing (CPSP) officials and community administrators are being held regularly.
In response to the need for follow-up building inspection recommendations, a number of structural engineering firms have been engaged, and are now in the community to provide engineering reports to CPSP on the structural condition of 46 residences and businesses.
PDAP enhancements related to financial assistance and qualifying criteria were announced in August. Most recently, the depreciation rate on all tangible property was adapted to better align with the real value of these items prior to the flooding. As well, all claims requiring replacement of furnaces or water heaters are being processed first, on a priority basis to make sure everyone is ready for winter.
I can assure you that this Government is working hard to move solutions to their needs as quickly as possible. PDAP has come a long way in a very short time from the program our government inherited, which had a $100,000 cap on payments for residences and businesses and a 12-18 month average wait time before any financial assistance arrived.
Recovery from such extensive damage does not happen overnight. However, we understand there is more work to be done and will continue to work with community officials and residents to ensure we are addressing their concerns as effectively as possible.
D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert, MLA Wood River, SK.
