SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU - Residents of the Richelieu Valley flood region -- from local mayors to homeowners -- are venting their frustration at the federal government's handling of the crisis.
They say it's not so much that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has visited other disaster sites, in Manitoba and Alberta, and bypassed this one.
The most common complaint from residents is an alleged comedy of errors involving the military: they say the Canadian Forces arrived too late, appeared unprepared once they arrived, began withdrawing too early and, now, are failing to help with the cleanup.
About 3,000 homes have been flooded and 1,000 people have been evacuated as flood waters have been rising and dropping, taking local residents on a meteorological roller-coaster ride.
Some people are even voicing a suspicion of the utmost cynicism: on call-in shows, and on the lips of local residents, there are whispers that perhaps Quebecers are being punished for how they voted on May 2.
"We didn't vote Conservative in the last election and never do," said Kathleen Lord, a 44-year-old resident of St-Blaise-sur-Richelieu. "That's what most people feel like actually.
"I guess (Harper) doesn't feel welcome. Maybe he's being told it's not that bad and we're dealing with it because we've lived all our lives on the river and maybe we're so tired that we're not making enough noise."
Lord said soldiers patrolled her street in assault vehicles -- but did little else.
"We needed physical help, manpower, and we did not get that," she said.
"Tanks were turning in my driveway every day around 3 p.m. -- but other than that they weren't speaking to us and weren't helping in any way.
"On other streets they did, but here they did not. There was no sandbag help, no manpower -- which is what we needed first and foremost."
Defence Minister Peter MacKay toured the area on Wednesday. He expressed sadness at the sight of flooded streets and farmland, and he promised that soldiers would not be withdrawn for at least a few days.
He would not commit, however, to having the troops stick around to help with cleanup. MacKay explained that the federal role is protecting people, during the emergency phase of the disaster.
"It's simply terrible," MacKay said in a statement to reporters, after helping to place a few sandbags.
"I understand the sense of urgency in the city and the region."
He said he was proud of the work done by Canadian soldiers, who helped protect property and evacuate some residents. He said their efforts saved homes and farmland.
But some people -- including NDP Leader Jack Layton -- said they expected more.
One local mayor said residents had been struggling for weeks and were tired. He said he couldn't understand why the feds wouldn't let soldiers stay to help clean up.
"It's been a month," said Mayor Jacques Desmarais of St-Blaise-sur-Richelieu.
"People are exhausted and there's still work to do -- cleaning, inspections and different types of activities.
"I think it's important enough that the military stay here to help people through."
The Quebec government has released an exchange of letters with Ottawa, where Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the military would not help with the cleanup.
Toews suggested that the military's role includes placing sandbags to protect property -- but not picking up sandbags to clean up.
Toews also explained that the military should not stay behind because, if it performed any cleanup work, it would be competing with the private sector.
He wrote that he and MacKay had agreed on the subject -- and, as a result, he never even transferred Quebec's request to the defence minister.
One local man simply shrugged his shoulders and expressed indifference to whatever the army does.
"They've done what up to now?" said Mario Courchesne, 53.
"We've seen the army come around with a firefighter and a provincial police officer to see if everything was OK. But aside from coming to see if everything was OK on our street, they've done nothing.
"We're not expecting anything from them."
His house, which is surrounded by sandbags, will be fine. However, he says his neighbour's flooded home will likely have to be demolished.
Courchesne added: "We've started to do our own cleanup because if we wait for the authorities we'll still be waiting until next fall."
He said he didn't care if the prime minister visited because what the locals need are "pairs of arms" -- not "politicians who make great speeches." He said visiting dignitaries wouldn't make a difference.
Another woman, who didn't give her name, was even less forgiving. The woman, who has lived in her house for 27 years, said: "People will forget when it's election time, but I will never forget."
"I will never forget," she repeated.
The NDP, which now holds seats in the area, is urging the prime minister to step up his efforts in the region and make an appearance.
Area residents are not only dealing with short-term evacuation concerns and protecting their homes, but they also fear they will never be compensated for the things they've lost.
Layton says the government needs to be sending clearer messages to reassure these people.
"I'd say it's a very reticent approach of the part of the Harper government," Layton said in Ottawa.
"It's absolutely critical to show people that they have that support. We want to ask the government to be there for them."
