More changes are coming to the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program in response to the needs of flood victims in the province.
"We're changing the program at the request of what we hear from the people of the province," said Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Yogi Huyghebaert who made the announcement Tuesday.
The changes will see the province hire additional structural engineers and dispatch additional independent claims adjusters to help assess damage. There are also changes coming to the payments criteria and to the depreciation rates for drywall, furnaces and other items to fit the real pre-disaster value of such items.
Huyghebaert told the Regional Optimist the provincial government is responding to the concerns people were having about the pace of assistance to individuals affected by the flooding that hit Maple Creek, Yorkton, the Battlefords and other parts of the province over the summer.
The province hired four new engineering firms to do structural assessments, bringing the total number to six firms assigned to file reports. This was done to address the need for structural engineers, Huyghebaert said.
"This has been a concern because we've had dwellings across the provinces that the adjusters looked at and we need a structural engineer to determine the structural integrity of the building," the minister said.
Over 100 structural engineers have now been taken on to do this work to determine which structures can be repaired and which need to be demolished. Huyghebaert believes it will move things along at a much faster pace, but he emphasizes that finding structural engineers to do the work has been difficult.
"They've been hard to find, that's to say the least," Huyghebaert said.
Figures released by the ministry show Yorkton recommended 46 residences and businesses needed structural inspections while Maple Creek needed 67.
As well, the ministry is dispatching additional independent claims adjusters to help assess the kind of damage and the extent of it being reported. To date about $6.7 million in assistance has been paid out.
Huyghebaert also noted there have been some significant changes made to the PDAP program from the guidelines that were in place before and inherited, he said, from the previous government.
Earlier changes announced include a change in the deductible from 20 per cent to five, an increase in the maximum amount of financial assistance available to principle resident claimants from $160,000 to $240,000, an increase in the maximum amount of assistance to eligible small businesses, non-profits, boards and primary agricultural enterprises from $160,000 to $500,000 and some other changes.
He said under the old program money would not flow for 12 to 18 months.
"We've had money flowing within a few days of the disaster," said Huyghebaert.
This week, the ministry announced some further changes. The PDAP guidelines and payment criteria have increased the advance payment from 40 per cent to 60 perc ent of the amount of the claim on approval of the adjuster's report. The ministry expects these reports will be coming in quicker with the additional adjusters.
Changes have also been made on the way depreciation rates are calculated into the mix. Depreciation rates on tangible property such as drywall, furnaces, hot water heaters and concrete are being reduced to better fit the real pre-disaster value of such items. Claims for replacement of furnaces and hot water heaters will continue to be processed on a priority basis.
Huyghebaert said the depreciation of drywall was a huge issue for a lot of people, one he heard loud and clear. Under the old system drywall was being depreciated at a rate of five per cent a year to a maximum of 50 per cent and people were saying that wasn't fair, he said.
Upon taking a further look, Huyghebaert agreed. "How do you depreciate drywall?" he asked, noting it could be still as good 30 years down the road as it was when you first put it in.
As a result, he says, the rates for depreciation for drywall have now been changed to one per cent per year depreciation to a maximum amount of 25 per cent.
The province has also changed the depreciation amount for furnaces to two per cent per year to a maximum of 50 per cent. He says the government is also looking for further ways to assist people whether it is through some of the other energy-efficient programs out there.
The province is also adjusting the depreciation for water heaters at 10 per cent per year to a maximum of 50 per cent. As well, concrete is being depreciated at two per cent per year to a maximum of 50 per cent.
Huyghebaert also is concerned about the stories from places such as Maple Creek, where reports have circulated in the media of some residents being pushed into bankruptcy as a result of the flooding.
"I'm always concerned when I hear some stories about third parties," said Huyghebaert.
"I think it's fair to ask questions about how can one be in financial difficulties from us providing assistance".
"There might be more to the story I guess is what I am saying, because what we are doing is helping people out. Now, if somebody wants to state that this program is causing them problems, I don't know how to read that because this program is there to help people - help people make their own personal assessment," Huyghebaert said.
The minister added he doesn't know why people would think it would be there for any other reason than to help people out.
