Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government is launching a $300 million recovery fund for the provinces affected by post-tropical storm Fiona.
Fiona made landfall as a fierce post-tropical storm in the early hours of Sept. 24, bringing hurricane-force wind, heavy rain, and leaving hundreds of thousands without power across eastern Canada. “Last week, I got to see firsthand the damage from the storm,” said Trudeau during a news conference on the Dartmouth waterfront Tuesday afternoon. “And as I said, it was much worse than images from TV or the internet could show – especially because I got to meet people who were affected.” Read more: Fiona, a record-setting storm, leaves path of destruction in eastern Canada Trudeau said the recovery fund will be administered through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec (DEC), as well as other federal departments. “This funding will support projects to repair and rebuild storm-damaged critical infrastructure such as wharves, support the cleanup of fishing gear so that boats and marine life can once again safely navigate these waters,” said Trudeau. “And of course, help local businesses and communities rebuild and recover.” The new fund will be for anyone not covered by any of the other Fiona aid programs, including the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program. “Whether it be federal infrastructure, whether it be community infrastructure, whether it be people who are facing challenges from uninsured structural damage in their homes – we are there to help out,” he said.
He did not say when the funding will roll out or how people and businesses will be able to apply. Read more: