Peel Region employee Dwayne Berrigan cuts limbs from iced trees in Brampton, December 23, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/J.P. Moczulski
January 10, 2014 - 6:49 AM
TORONTO - Toronto city council will be advised today to consider asking the provincial government to declare the city a disaster area.
The recommendation is in a city staff report that says Toronto faces in excess of $171 million in costs due to storms in 2013.
The report estimates last month's severe ice storm will cost the city at least $106 million in damage to forestry infrastructure and other related expenses.
It adds that the city was already facing a bill of more than $65 million for damage caused by a rain storm in July that inundated parts of Toronto.
The report recommends city council ask the minister of municipal affairs and housing to declare Toronto a "disaster area" under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.
It also urges council to request that Queen's Park and Ottawa establish or expand disaster mitigation programs involving urban forestry, erosion control, winter storms, tree canopy, and other severe storm events.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014