Some residents of downtown Fort McMurray are criticizing the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s plan to buy out high flood risk homes in the area, sharing concerns over the amounts touted for the buyouts.
The plan comes after the region was hit by severe spring flooding, which led to over $400 million in insurance damages.
The city administration had recommended buying out the entire neighbourhoods of Draper and Ptarmigan Park, as well as a partial buyout of Waterways, due to their vulnerability to flooding. Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo deputy chief administrative officer Matthew Hough explained to councillors in a recent meeting that the buyout would be based on cost and risk mitigation, not public input.
CBC News reported that the buyouts, as well as the remediation for flood damage, would cost the regional municipality $135 million. Although all the homes in Draper and Ptarmigan Park would be acquired, only properties below the 250-meter elevation mark in Waterways would be purchased – 94 properties would be bought out, leaving 68 homes.
While a survey conducted by the administration found that 62% of residents supported the buyout, some have their reservations about the plan. Ptarmigan Park homeowner Mackenzie Zimmer is among those with concerns.
“I’m going to lose more money than I did with the market crashing,” Zimmer told CBC News, explaining that he paid $325,000 for his home and lot in 2014, but selling it now at its assessed value would clock in at just $70,000.
John Wuis, who owns multiple properties in Ptarmigan Park, said that while he is open to a buyout, he wants to learn more details about the plan, particularly when it comes to moving expenses. He told CBC News that he would like to know who will cover the $45,000 cost of moving his mobile home.
CBC News reported that there is currently no information on whether the municipality would pay for the cost of moving mobile homes, whether the land would be expropriated, or what would happen if some residents choose to stay in those flood-prone neighbourhoods.
Jason Thistlethwaite, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, previously cautioned that provincial buyout programs are going to be more commonplace in the future, as the flood risk across Canada increases.
