A special, one-time financial assistance is being created for recreational property owners who experienced property damages during the 2018 spring freshet flooding.
The federal Disaster Financial Assistance program launched on May 2 does not cover the restoration of recreational properties, and the province recognizes there is a need to help owners of recreational properties with the financial burden caused by this historic and devastating flood. Providing assistance to these New Brunswickers will ensure potential health and safety risks are removed and the natural environment is restored.
Under the federal-provincial disaster assistance program, the federal government reimburses provinces for up to 90 per cent of eligible costs, leaving provinces with 10 per cent of the costs. The federal criteria does not allow for reimbursement of costs relating to the restoration of recreational properties.
Under the new assistance, recreational property owners can receive up to $6,100 from the provincial government to help clean up their property. Claims can be made for labour or contracted cleanup cost. All claims are subject to adjudication by an adjuster using national standards.
The special one-time program is being established in recognition of the historic nature of this year's flooding.