WEST CARLETON – Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has placed Coun. Eli El-Chantiry in a leadership role if the city has to deal with extreme flooding during the 2020 spring freshet.

“In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has upended the life of our city and country, hundreds of Ottawa residents awoke today with renewed concerns for potential flooding given the heavy weekend rains,” Watson wrote in a memo to council. “Although staff advised water levels are not currently at threatening levels, I am writing to inform you that I have asked Coun. Eli El-Chantiry to play a leadership role as council liaison on the 2020 spring freshet.”

Watson noted El-Chantiry’s experience dealing with extreme flooding in his own ward which includes West Carleton. El-Chantiry was on the frontlines and took a leadership role during flooding in both 2017 and 2019.

“As you all know, El-Chantiry has been front and centre in helping our local communities rebuild after the devastating floods that hit our city in 2017 and 2019,” Watson said. “West Carleton-March has seen a large share of damage from those floods and from the tornadoes that tore through our region in 2018. Members of Council will also recall that El-Chantiry was helping his friends and neighbours sandbag their properties while his own family was losing a property to the flooding.”

El-Chantiry will work closely with members of council whose wards have been most severely impacted in the past, including Coun. Theresa Kavanagh (Bay Ward) and Coun. George Darouze (Osgoode Ward) – who is temporarily managing Cumberland Ward issues for Cumberland Village.

“I want to thank El-Chantiry for liaising with the city’s senior leadership team, members of council, my office and key community agencies over the course of the coming days and until such time as the 2020 spring flood threat is behind us,” Watson said. “This is an exceptionally challenging time for our city and our residents, and I want to thank El-Chantiry and all members of council for working together as we focus on mobilizing the spirit and resources our communities need to overcome these challenges.”

El-Chantiry is only too happy to accept the role.

“Thank you for appointing me as council liaison on the 2020 spring freshet,” El-Chantiry released in a statement today (March 30). “I’m happy to help where I can – and I’m looking forward to working closely with councillors Theresa Kavanagh and George Darouze and all council colleagues.”

Watson also recently sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford on potential flooding.

On March 24 Watson wrote “thank you for your continued commitment and support for Ottawa residents impacted by emergency events in recent years, most notably the current COVID-19 pandemic. During your visits to various flood and tornado affected communities in Ottawa, you have witnessed first-hand both the hardships faced by individuals and the community resources required to support impacted neighbourhoods.”

City staff evaluated the condition of the roads impacted by flooding and tornado events including site visits, consultant testing and feedback from the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA).

“In order to ensure service continuity to its residents during this crisis, rehabilitation of seven roadways urgently needs to be completed during the 2020 construction season,” Watson said.

Staff estimate the funds needed is approximately $6 million.

“We request the Ontario government assist in making these funds available,” Watson said.

Watson said staff carefully reviewed the provincially commissioned Independent Review of the 2019 Flood Events in Ontario.

Watson highlighted three recommendations from the report and requested “the following actions be considered to keep people and property in Ottawa safe from the impacts of flooding in the future.”

That Ottawa be permitted to apply for Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund grants

That the province revise the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program which the city is not eligible for due to the “high payout threshold of three per cent of the municipal tax levy”

That the province review the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) and implement a strategy to permit the buyout of flood affected properties

“I appreciate your consideration of these requests, which will help keep people and property in Ottawa safe from the impacts of flooding,” Watson said.