Hay River (Oct 06/03) - The territorial government will not compensate victims of this year's flooding in Hay River.

During flooding in the spring, Vern Gardiner helped remove equipment from a garage in Hay River's West Channel. - NNSL file photo

The GNWT says damage during spring break-up was not widespread and significant enough. As well, residents did not take the necessary precautions to protect their property.

West Channel residents submitted eight claims for compensation, totalling $66,946. There are also 10 claims from the Hay River Reserve, totalling $6,420.

The government also rejected claims from the Town of Hay River and K'atlodeeche First Nation for their expenses dealing with the flood.

The Town of Hay River claimed $18,885 in expenses, while KFN claimed $10,397.

The decision is being met with disappointment in Hay River.

"It's borderline lunacy," says John Ross, a West Channel resident who submitted the largest compensation claim: $49,758.

Ross says if Vale Island had been washed away and there had been millions of dollars in damage, the government would have compensated victims. "The thing I don't understand is, you'd think they'd be relieved the damage was not much. It absolutely makes no sense to me," Ross said.

The BHP employee added $50,000 to his mortgage to repair the damage to his house.

It suffered mainly structural damage, such as an attached garage being pulled away from the house, although the main living area of the house was not flooded.

Many items in the garage were damaged, including a furnace, even though Ross says items were raised off the floor as a precaution.

Leon Thomas, another West Channel resident, says it's not right for the government to deny compensation.

"They should have money for that," he says.

Thomas says some of his fishing nets were destroyed by ice, while boats and motors were damaged by the flood.

In all, Thomas submitted a claim for $7,000 in compensation, mostly for fishing equipment.

The former chief of West Point First Nation says West Channel residents, who were forced to evacuate the area during the flood, will be bitter about the government's decision.

Could have been avoided

Municipal and community affairs minister Vince Steen says there is a policy for considering compensation requests.

"The policy states that damage has to be widespread, it has to be significant, and people would have to show they took precautions to avoid it," says Steen.

The minister says flooding in Hay River is nothing new, adding there are designated areas in the town plan in which residents have to take precautions.

"What we're saying is the damage in Hay River could have been avoided," he says, noting much damage occurred to freezers and their contents, which could have been moved to safer locations.

As for Ross's situation, Steen notes reimbursement was paid for flood damage to the house in 1989 and it was supposed to be used to improve the property so damage wouldn't happen again, but it wasn't.

Ross disputes that. His parents owned the house at the time, and he says they have a file containing receipts for improvements.

Among other things, Ross says the house was jacked up above flood level and a basement was eliminated. That's why the flood only affected the garage and the foundation underneath the house.

The territorial cabinet made the compensation decision, based on a recommendation from MACA. The department established a committee to review the requests under its Disaster Assistance Policy.

Not just sightseeing

Hay River MLA Paul Delorey is disappointed by the lack of compensation.

Delorey notes West Channel would have to be completely wiped out to meet the government's criteria for compensation. "I was under the impression all summer long that the minister was going to go to cabinet with a compensation package," he says.

Delorey says he still intends to press the compensation claims in the Legislative Assembly. At the height of the flooding, Steen and Premier Steve Kakfwi visited the affected areas. Delorey says he invited them to come see the situation for themselves, because he knew there would be compensation requests.

"I didn't invite them down for a sightseeing tour," Delorey said.

Poor message

Delorey also objects to the Town of Hay River's solid financial situation being a reason for not compensating the municipality for its expenses.

"That's almost like penalizing a community for good financial management," Delorey said.

Hay River Mayor Duncan McNeill also says it is unfair the town won't be compensated because of its good finances. "That is a very poor message for the government to be sending out," McNeill said. However, Steen notes the expenses claimed by the town and KFN won't effect their financial situations.

"You could even say their expenses were kind of minor in relation to their overall budgets," Steen said.

The minister says a community with a poor financial situation in a similar flood would not get any compensation, either, because it would not meet the policy guidelines.