On October 15, 2024, the Protecteur du citoyen sent a letter to Benoît Charrette, Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. In it, he commented on the updated rules for better protecting people and property against flooding and watercourse movement.
The Protecteur du citoyen shares the objectives of the proposed amendments. However, he made three recommendations to optimize the new regulatory framework.
The first is to set a deadline for updating flood zone maps. In a letter to the Minister in 2023, the Protecteur du citoyen recommended that the deadline be specified.
The second recommendation aims to offer to citizens, including First Nations and Inuit communities, a simple and accessible process for requesting a map revision. This way, if they find an error or a problem, they will not be forced to turn to the courts.
Lastly, the Protecteur du citoyen made a third recommendation: that technical and financial support be offered to homeowners wishing to protect their homes located in flood or movement zones.
