Merritt Receives $24.2M For Flood Recovery: Province

The City of Merritt along with nine other communities affected by the November 2021 floods will be sharing $53.6 million in provincial funding to support recovery work and get people back into their communities.

The announcement was made Thursday by Minister of Municipal Affairs Nathan Cullen who reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring local governments and their residents have access to the resources they need to recover, including housing in the medium term, while we work to develop long-term solutions to better protect people and communities.

It was announced that Merritt would receive the lion’s share of the funding with just over $24.2 million earmarked for area’s recovery work.

Merritt Mayor Linda Brown told Q101 that she was estatic with the news.

“I’m over the moon happy that we know that money available now that will allow us to bring our residents home and to make our community a bit safer for those here who are wondering what’s next,” said Brown.

This funding is in addition to more than $2.1 billion that Budget 2022 provides to help people recover from last year’s floods and wildfires, and to better protect communities against future climate disasters.

“We will be able to begin housing projects that support approximately 200 people, work on plans for our wastewater treatment facilities and the Middlesboro bridge, and completely rebuild Voght
Park. There’s money for road repair, clean-up and for working on the temporary dykes that weput in place to protect the City, and are still there as we look towards the spring melt.”

Mayor Brown added that it’s still unknown when the funds will actually be recieved howver she said the City can know start the ball rolling on many projects that will bring those Merritt residents displaced by the floods home.