The provincial government of Alberta had asked some Fort McMurray flood victims to return the money they received through the Disaster Recovery Program – but officials later withdrew the order, renewing its pledge to help those affected by the recent flooding.
Several Fort McMurray residents received a call on July 17 from the Disaster Recovery Program, saying that they needed to return the $5,000 cheque they received as part of an advance emergency relief funding.
In response to complaints about the funding recall, Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs Kaycee Madu said in a Twitter post that the program will not take back the money it had already given.
"Flood victims will not be subject to these kinds of bureaucratic quagmires under my watch," he said, adding that the program "will not be clawing back these advance payments."
Madu also confirmed that so far, there have been 132 advance payments made to Fort McMurray flood victims, which total $590,000.
"Our government vowed to get the people of northern Alberta back on their feet following this disaster event, and that's exactly what we're going to do."
Timothy Gerwing, Madu’s press secretary, said in a statement that those who were unable to cash the advance cheques will "receive the payments they were promised in good faith." The secretary also said that nine flood victims were asked to return the advance payment, but the department is "taking steps to ensure this doesn't occur again.”
CBC News reported that Madu was not available for an interview on the matter.
