I would like to take this opportunity to update the House on a flooding situation in Timiskaming–Cochrane, in Elliot Lake, just outside of Iroquois Falls. It has been in flood conditions for a few weeks now. A lot of my riding had the flood and the flood flowed away, but Elliot Lake is unique because, for residents around the lake now, their septic systems are flooding; they no longer work. They’re having to boil water and now it’s questionable whether the foundations around their homes are going to be maintained.

Elliot Lake is unique because part of it is in the municipality of Iroquois Falls and they have declared a state of emergency, and part of it is in unorganized territory.

I would like to say, I met with the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and we are working together to try and alleviate the situation. It’s hard to find the short-term solution, but there are long-term consequences to what is happening here. It is unprecedented. Elliot Lake, in my time, hasn’t flooded and people around this area have never seen this before. There’s no such thing as an easy flood, but if a flood comes and goes, it’s one thing, but this flood came and it stayed and it’s staying.

I’m going to continue to work with the ministries to work on behalf of the people of Elliot Lake.