The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the creation of the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund. The Fund will provide up to an additional $300 million over two years, starting this year, to help those impacted by the storm and to support long-term recovery efforts.
Building on the government’s ongoing response to Hurricane Fiona in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec, the Fund will support recovery efforts such as:
- Helping local communities and businesses rebuild and recover more quickly from the impacts of Hurricane Fiona.
- Restoring the economic activity that local communities depend on by beginning to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure, including fishing wharves and small craft harbours that were damaged or destroyed by the storm. Repairs will ensure that the infrastructure is better able to withstand any future damage.
- Ensuring the safety of navigation and protecting marine wildlife.
The new Fund will provide support for costs that may not be covered by existing federal programs, including the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA). Through the DFAA, the federal government covers up to 90 per cent of eligible provincial expenses following a disaster, including providing transportation, emergency food, and shelter, and restoring or replacing uninsurable dwellings and items.
Recovering from the widespread impacts of Hurricane Fiona will require a collective effort. The new Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund builds on the support the federal government has already announced, including deploying Canadian Armed Forces members and matching donations made to the Canadian Red Cross. We will keep working in partnership with provincial governments, municipal partners, and local First Nations communities to continue providing additional financial support to rebuild communities and the economy.
Quick Facts
- The Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund will be coordinated by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, which will work with other federal departments and agencies, such as Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Transport Canada, to determine local needs and allocate funds accordingly.
- Immediately following Hurricane Fiona’s landfall, the federal government approved a request for federal assistance from the Government of Nova Scotia, and further requests for assistance from Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador were also approved shortly after they were received.
- In response to these requests, the government continues to support provinces with their immediate needs. Since the storm, up to 850 Canadian Armed Forces members have been deployed to remove debris to assist in the restoration of transportation links and the power grid, as well as perform wellness checks in affected communities.
- The Government of Canada will also provide financial assistance to provincial governments through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA). Through the DFAA, the government covers up to 90 per cent of eligible provincial expenses following a disaster, including:
- Evacuation, transportation, emergency food, shelter, and clothing;
- Repairs to public buildings and related equipment, roads, and bridges;
- Restoration or replacement of individuals’ uninsurable dwellings (principal residences only), personal furnishings, appliances, and clothing; and,
- Restoration of small businesses and farmsteads, including uninsurable buildings and equipment.
- On September 25, 2022, the Government of Canada announced a donation-matching program with the Canadian Red Cross to support those impacted by the storm. The government will continue to match donations Canadians and corporations make for the next 30 days from September 25, with the possibility of extension.
- Residents who have been impacted by Hurricane Fiona should register with the Canadian Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 or online at www.redcross.ca/hurricanefiona.
- Canadians wishing to make a financial donation to help those impacted by Hurricane Fiona can do so online at www.redcross.ca, by calling 1-800-418-1111, or by texting FIONA to 20222 to make a $10 donation.