GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES ENHANCED PDAP FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Changes to Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) criteria announced today are geared to enhance the financial assistance provided to clients.

"Our government has made several improvements to the PDAP program since last year," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert said. "We're pleased that we could respond with more program improvements that will see more equitable treatment of municipalities and small businesses."

Today's PDAP improvements are:

• Decreasing the municipal deductible amount from .15 per cent of the municipality's taxable assessment to .1 per cent to relieve the burden of excessive costs after a major event.
• Allowing a maximum 15 per cent payment of estimated damage costs in the existing claim to be used for mitigation projects, as an incentive for claimants to reduce potential of further damage from future events.
• Establishing a new category of communal organizations, such as Hutterite colonies, to meet the needs of additional groups.
• Reducing minimum revenue requirements for small businesses from $6,000 to $4,000, so more small businesses may be eligible for financial assistance.

"We are pleased that through these improvements, the government is responding to the needs of rural communities," Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) President Dave Marit said. "By meeting the needs of additional groups and enhancing financial assistance, SARM is confident these changes will go a long way to providing much needed help to rural residents."

"SUMA is pleased that the municipal deductible amount is decreasing," Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) President Allan Earle said. "This move acknowledges the considerable burden on urban governments as a result of disasters. While we pray that no SUMA member will need to access PDAP support this year, the program is now better suited to meet their needs."

The total cost of these PDAP changes is estimated to be around $2.5 million.

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For more information, contact:

Linsay Rabyj
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2626