NEWSMAKERS: Ice storm cripples many parts of region

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 31, 2014
Lisa Queen

The fallout from a devastating pre-Christmas ice storm last year dominated headlines well into the early weeks of 2014.

The Dec. 22 storm left thousands without power for days, brought tree branches crashing down, disrupted garbage collection and caused substantial damage to property and infrastructure.

Early in January, York Region councillors came together to ask for financial assistance from the province if the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing declared the Greater Toronto Area a natural disaster zone.

As the weeks wore on, it became clearer how much damage the storm had caused across the region.

For example, Vaughan estimated its costs at $21 million, while Markham’s prediction came in at more than $13 million.

Richmond Hill pegged its costs at $6.4 million, King Township believed its costs could reach as much as $200,000 and Whitchurch-Stouffville set its cleanup work at $158,000.

A York Region contingent, made up of then-chairperson Bill Fisch, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow, King Mayor Steve Pellegrini and then-Whitchurch-Stouffville mayor Wayne Emmerson, travelled to Mississauga in January to take part in a summit of GTA communities pleading with the provincial and federal governments to kick in funds to help offset their cleanup costs.

The province has set aside $190 million to assist municipalities pay for damage sustained during the ice storm, Ministry of Municipal Affairs spokesperson Mark Cripps said.

Towns, cities and authorities have until today to submit a claim and the funding should be divvied up shortly after that, he said.

The province will ask Ottawa to pay a portion but the $190 million will flow to municipalities regardless, Cripps said.