Quebec public safety minister visits storm-beaten Magdalen Islands
Quebec Public Safety Minister Geneviève Guilbault flew to the Magdalen Islands Sunday morning to see the extent of the damage left in the wake of post-tropical storm Fiona.
"On Friday, we had sent additional reinforcements, so people from the Sûreté du Québec, Hydro-Québec, the Ministry of Transport, Civil Security and the Ministry of Public Security. We are going to meet with these people and take stock of the situation. These people are tired and we can understand it, they have been in intense preparation and intervention for three to four days. So, we will go to thank them and see with them the damage on site," said Guilbault in a press scrum before boarding the plane.
The Magdalen Islands were hit hard by Fiona on Saturday, which also devastated Nova Scotia and other parts of the Atlantic.
"The wind storm ended around 10 p.m. in the Magdalen Islands and is still ongoing this morning in the Lower North Shore, particularly in Blanc-Sablon. The combination of waves and storm surge there leads us to believe that there could be coastal overflows, but so far, so good," Guilbault said around 9 a.m. Sunday morning.
Only 255 customers were without power in the Magdalen Islands at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday. That number was about 1,714 the day before.
"There were no deaths. There were no injuries. It's always the main thing to make sure people are safe. The road network in the Magdalen Islands was restored last night as well," the public safety minister added.
The municipality also announced Sunday morning that most residents could continue consuming drinking water as usual.
"The situation regarding municipal drinking water wells has returned to normal, with the exception of L'Île-du-Havre-Aubert, where the wells are still not operating at full capacity. We therefore ask the citizens of the sector to limit as much as possible their consumption of drinking water," reads a statement posted to Facebook.
Damage to the roof of the Saint-Pierre de Lavernière church caused by post-tropical storm Fiona is shown on the Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Coastal flooding remains a threat for parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island including the Northumberland Strait, the Gulf of St. Lawrence region including Iles-de-la-Madeleine and eastern New Brunswick, southwest Newfoundland, the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Quebec Lower North Shore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nigel Quinn
AID FOR VICTIMS
At least 37 islanders were evacuated to one of the four temporary accommodation centers in the region, according to the latest information.
"These people were redirected to commercial accommodation because it is always more comfortable than a collective shelter and, as there were not many evacuees, we were able to do so with the collaboration of the Red Cross," Guilbaut explained.
She said an official disaster assistance office will open at the beginning of the week for those with damaged private property to "inform them about our financial assistance programs" and assist them directly.
Guilbaut, who is also the deputy premier of Quebec, said she should have a better idea of the extent and nature of the damage by the end of the day.
"What I'm hearing preliminarily this morning is that there is a lot of damage to the road system or municipal infrastructure and critical infrastructure. Obviously, some damage to private property is expected from some citizens, so we're going to go through that today, now that it's safe to do so."
ARMY SERVICES NOT REQUIRED
The Quebec government will not call for military assistance, as was done in Nova Scotia.
"We don't need the army. Our operational capacity has not been exceeded at all. The teams were ready for at least four days. All week, we prepared for Fiona's arrival," said Guilbault.
It is still unclear whether the Quebec government will submit a request for financial assistance to the federal government.
It should also be noted that the state of emergency, declared by the municipality on Friday, is in effect for a period of five days.
"It will then be up to them to see if they still need it," Guilbault said.
Youth hostel Paradis Bleu is surrounded by high water caused by post-tropical storm Fiona is shown on the Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Coastal flooding remains a threat for parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island including the Northumberland Strait, the Gulf of St. Lawrence region including Iles-de-la-Madeleine and eastern New Brunswick, southwest Newfoundland, the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Quebec Lower North Shore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nigel Quinn
ADVANCE POLLS CHANGED
Unsurprisingly, advance voting was cancelled Sunday on the Magdalen Islands in light of the storm.
Weather permitting, electors will be able to vote at the advance polls on Monday from 9 a.m to 10 p.m., according to Elections Quebec.
Advance polls will also be held at the office of the returning officer from Sept. 27 to 29.
This report was published in French by The Canadian Press on Sept. 25, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.