Burlington, Ont. to seek flood relief from province in wake of torrential rains

BURLINGTON, Ont. – A city west of Toronto has formally launched a campaign for provincial flood relief.

City council in Burlington has voted unanimously to seek assistance through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.

Mayor Rick Goldring says Red Cross volunteers have started going door-to-door in affected neighbourhoods, as they try to attach a dollar figure to the damage.

More than 2,000 homes were flooded by torrential rains on Aug. 4 when Burlington received a reported 125 millimetres of rain – or nearly two months worth.

If Burlington’s request for disaster relief is accepted, it would receive two dollars from the province for every dollar that is generated in the community.

At a special meeting Thursday, Burlington council also approved a direction asking Halton Region to give immediate help to approximately 80 homes that have been flooded more than once.