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It was the first federal government visit to the community since massive flooding hit downtown Princeton, British Columbia nearly two years ago.
Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair was on site Wednesday to tour the hardest-hit areas and infrastructure.
“I have had several conversations and am aware of the challenges Princeton faces and some of the very important investments that must be made to restore the infrastructure of this community,” Blair said. said.
“I thought it was important that we did the right thing and that it was really important to meet with Coyne and his team and get a chance to see some of the damage they had suffered. We need help understanding how we can help and what we need to do. ”
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Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne and city officials briefed ministers directly on how much progress the community has made since the floods that devastated downtown in November 2021.
“It could have happened sooner, I say it. This was frustrating not only for me, but for our community. I did,” Coyne said.
“The most important thing was to show him what we have been through, where we came from and where we are now. I think that’s the key to the resilience of our community and how much we’ve accomplished while dealing with this situation. ”
But what worries locals and officials is that large parts of the city are still under boil advisories.
“I’m angry to be honest. It’s been almost a year and a half since this happened, but he’s getting close to being able to flush the water after a day of flooding,” he said.
“This is unacceptable and we have to join forces and start working together. The fact that you are facing is BS in my opinion.”
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Princeton, British Columbia still struggles to recover from 2021 floods
Coyne went on to say that the community had been turned down “by local health officials regarding water conditions”, adding that it could be months before the recommendation for boiling water is lifted. “I am very frustrated with the water situation. I am very frustrated with the bureaucracy getting in the way of our water situation.
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“I am concerned that the people who make our water decisions are asking qualified technicians about the water situation. And it is an insult to those who are entitled to do the work.”
His $4 million-plus water treatment facility just east of the city is one of the largest rebuilding projects the city has to complete.
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About 70% of the residents still need to boil water until the system is up and running.
“We understand the water challenges facing this community, as well as many other critical infrastructure impacts,” Blair said during the tour. “It’s incredibly expensive and very important infrastructure for our community. That’s why I came here to hold this community accountable for this infrastructure and point out what needs to be done. That’s one of the reasons I’m grateful to these people for helping me.”
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Blair added that he plans to return this information to discussions with state and Ottawa officials.
Meanwhile, the community has yet to receive the promised funds to complete the repairs.
“You probably remember that we put about $5 billion into this recovery. They had to get insurance and the state itself had a lot of resources,” Blair said.
“This was an incredibly devastating catastrophe for British Columbia and this country. It’s about having a vision and making sure that we do it with greater strength and resilience going forward.
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Blair said part of the reason for his visit was that he worked hand in hand with the state through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program.
States evaluate and determine eligibility according to eligibility criteria set by the federal government. The state then makes some payments and returns the bills to the federal government. “We pay about 90% of that money under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program,” Blair said.
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A year after the Princeton floods, the community is still rebuilding
Blair said the process can take up to three years.
But he worked closely with the state government to expedite the process and get the money to communities like Princeton faster.
“I am very aware of the urgency of the community and they need this money,” Blair added.
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“I went to Merritt, but there are still a lot of people living in motels and hotels, and it’s been a tough time for him in a year. Transfer funds.”
There is currently no timeline for when Princeton will receive these funds.
“The lesson we’ve learned from air currents is that we need to find faster, faster ways to get money to communities in need. Hopefully, we can cut some of the bureaucracy that exists at all levels of government,” Coyne said.
“The fact that the Minister is here today shows that we are committed to this principle at the federal level.”
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