Time running out for ice storm claim

It’s been almost one year since an intense ice storm froze parts of Southern Ontario causing millions of dollars in damage.

But almost 12 months later, not one town or city has received a penny from the relief fund set up by the province. With the deadline to apply fast approaching, municipalities are rushing to get their application in before time runs out.

It happened just two days before Christmas. An ice storm struck much of Southern Ontario leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power.

For days residents lived without heat or hydro as crews worked around the clock cleaning up the mess caused by downed trees and power lines.

Kim Cloverdale: “We understand being out here it’s part of our life, it can happen, it will happen. but for six days, we’ve been six days. We just want to know why”

By January, Queens Park had offered up 190 million dollars in relief. But twelve months later, not one town or city affected by the devastating ice storm, has received a dime.

With the deadline to apply for money fast approaching, municipalities are scrambling to submit their applications. The town of Oakville hopes to file by Friday, while a spokesperson from the city of Burlington says it will be grateful for any money it receives.

The city of Hamilton which has been working on its application since June, is also confident it will meet the deadline.

Mike Zegarac, City of Hamilton: “The fact that the province is trying to leverage a funding partnership with the federal government is contributing to the amount of reporting that is required from municipalities so it’s requiring extra effort from municipalities.

MPP Ted McMeekin, Municipal Affairs Minister: “Well, we’ve extended the deadline once at the behest of municipalities. They were still calculating many of their direct and indirect costs. Most of the municipalities, in fact all of the municipalities our staff have spoken with say they can meet the December 31st deadline.”

Municipal officials expect the money to begin flowing by late next year or early 2016.