QUEEN’S PARK – Leaders Ledger – I want to take time today to offer, on behalf of our caucus, our sympathies to the victims of the recent flooding to hit Thunder Bay. I also want to pay tribute to the spirit of generosity the community has shown through the wake of this disaster.
When I spoke earlier with Mayor Keith Hobbs, a friend of mine, he estimated that the basements of 1,000 homes were flooded after more than 100 millimetres of rain hit the city last week. He said that that was more rain than they had in the entire month of May of any other year. This has, of course, crippled the city’s sewage treatment plant, which only made matters worse.
The city of Thunder Bay declared a state of emergency and has asked the provincial government to make an official disaster declaration.
I want to say to the mayor, the council, the city staff and all of the EMS personnel, they deserve the support for their efforts to assist those affected by this situation.
The Salvation Army and the Red Cross launched national appeals for help in the wake of the flooding, and people have responded.
As a fellow northerner, I would say that the aftermath of this will linger for weeks, if not years, and I urge all of us Ontarians to do what we can to help those affected.
Vic Fedeli MPP