Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Yogi Huyghebaert has left hundreds of Saskatchewan families in an ongoing state of limbo since last summers disastrous floods. Months after flood waters hit many Saskatchewan communities, about 200 families are still without homes and forced to live in motels, cabins and motor homes. Rather than speed up the processing of over 4000 claims for assistance, the Wall government has merely flipped a measly $200,000 to the provincial Red Cross to use for services to flood victims.
This is so typical of the ideology bound Saskatchewan Party. Those in need are considered 'charity' cases. And what's the best way for a Right Wing political administration to provide essential services to those in need? The Minister just flips a few coins into the charity basket, and then washes his hands of any meaningful action. Shame on Minister Yogi Huyghebaert for not doing his job. Shame on Brad Wall for allowing this right wing incompetent to stay in cabinet.
Here is the story of just one family that continues to suffer because of the callous and incompetent Minister Yogi.
"Homeowner still waiting for aid money
By Tim Switzer
Leader-Post December 4, 2010
All Jody Bencze wants is to be home for the holidays. Five months after it hit, the Yorkton woman is still dealing with the effects of the devastating Canada Day flood that drowned out much of the east-central Saskatchewan city.
The single mother of two purchased her first home in September 2009 and when the rains came on July 1, only trickles of water came inside. But the pressure on the foundation walls from the saturated ground eventually caused strain on all four basement walls, one of which had previous damage.
"They didn't have visible cracks prior, now I have all four walls with cracks," said Bencze. "They started as pin-sized cracks and now I can stick my fingers in the wall."
Since then, she has dealt with a series of engineers about the damage and just last week was told by the City of Yorkton that if the foundation wasn't repaired in the short term, she would have to leave her home by mid-December.
Bencze had been hoping to have already received a payment from the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) to help cover the costs.
"It would be nice if PDAP would contact us and let us know what steps are to be taken and a rough idea of how long this is going to take," said Bencze, who has been working through an engineer to deal with PDAP. "I don't have the funds (to pay for the repairs), so it would be nice to have a rough dollar amount."
Bencze is not alone.
In all, the city has identified 43 homes with varying levels of structural damage that need attention. According to city manager David Putz, around half of those will have to be torn down if the foundations are not repaired.
In each of those cases, the residents are no longer living in their homes. Some, like Bencze, were given time to get plans in place for temporary bracing before leaving. Others had to leave immediately.
"We're being as flexible as we can and it will go on a case-by-case basis," said Putz.
He said the city brought the issues to PDAP officials and was told that the cases would become priorities of the program.
Tom Young, executive director of protection and emergency services with the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing, said 59 structure claims have been received from Yorkton and when structure is involved, claims can take a little longer because different assessors will look at the damage.
"I wouldn't say '(without a) shadow of doubt,' but certainly there has to be strong indication that that was as a result of the flood ... and judgments have to be made if it's somewhere in between," said Young, who noted those that had to leave their homes also have access to $30,000 for accommodations through PDAP.
Two houses in Yorkton have been condemned outright because of the flood. One of those had prior structural issues.
For the city's part, it is approving temporary bracing for basement walls for affected homeowners once blueprints have been drawn up by engineers. It is not the final solution, but it could allow some residents to stay in their homes until a permanent fix can be done.
Bencze was meeting with an engineer Friday to arrange that for her home so she can remain there over the winter.
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
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