PREMIER ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS TO PROVINCIAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Premier Brad Wall today announced that the province will improve the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) by lowering the deductible amount and increasing the maximum amount of compensation available to individuals and businesses.

PDAP provides financial assistance for essential, uninsurable property caused by floods, tornadoes, plow winds or severe storms.

"These improvements will provide greater financial compensation to those whose property was damaged or destroyed by this summer's severe storms," Wall said. "While money alone can never replace everything that was lost, our government is working hard to help people with the financial hardship these storms have caused."

Program improvements include:

• Deductible for private claimants reduced from 20 per cent to five per cent;
• Maximum amount of financial assistance available to principal resident claimants increased from $160,000 to $240,000;
• Maximum amount of assistance to eligible small businesses, non-profit organizations, boards, and primary agricultural enterprises increased from $160,000 to $500,000;
• Saskatchewan residency requirement for small business and agricultural enterprise owners eliminated;
• Maximum $30,000 relocation payment separated from property claim;
• Regional park authorities' eligibility same as municipalities; and
• Deductible for municipalities and regional parks fixed at 0.15 per cent of their current taxable assessment.

All the changes are retroactive to the start of the fiscal year on April 1, 2010, so they will benefit victims of this summer's storms.

Wall said the lower deductible will make a big difference to many individuals and families in repairing their damaged homes and replacing their essential belongings.

"For example, for someone with $10,000 in eligible damages, this will increase the compensation they receive by $1,500," Wall said.

Wall said the government has been working hard to be as responsive as possible to those hard-hit by the summer storms.

"Many people have told us that long-standing and current support levels were inadequate," Wall said. "That's why today we are responding to that concern by lowering the deductible and raising the cap for those who suffered damages."

Unprecedented severe weather this summer created property damage losses for communities across Saskatchewan, including Maple Creek, Yorkton, Saskatoon, the Raymore/Kawakatoose area and North Battleford. Since June, more than 100 Saskatchewan communities have been designated as eligible disaster areas.

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca