08/03/2026
Walking around my neighbourhood, the impact of Tuesday’s flooding is impossible to miss. Basements are being emptied, with damaged belongings piled on lawns or loaded into dumpsters.
It’s been an incredibly difficult week for many people in St. Catharines. Some families have even had to find temporary accommodations. Homes like mine, which had never experienced water issues before, ended up with flooded basements.
The City of St. Catharines has inspected its infrastructure and found no blockages. We received a record amount of rainfall in a very short period of time, far beyond what stormwater systems here or elsewhere in Canada are designed to handle.
A number of people have contacted my office asking whether there is federal assistance available. Unfortunately, there is no federal program for localized flooding events like this.
Ontario does have the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program, which can help people whose losses are uninsured or not fully covered by insurance. However, the program must first be activated by the Province for a local disaster such as this.
In the meantime, our municipal governments have taken important steps to help residents:
• The City of St. Catharines has established a Vulnerable Assistance Registry for eligible residents who need help removing water and damaged belongings from their homes. Residents can complete the online form or call 905-688-5600 https://shorturl.at/yc7ZI
• Niagara Region has announced enhanced waste collection measures beginning Monday, August 3, including increased garbage bag limits and waived tipping fees at the Humberstone and Bridge Street landfills. Please visit the Region’s website for full details. https://niagararegion.ca/waste/flood-response.aspx
• The City is also arranging additional waste disposal support by placing large bins at select City facilities early next week. Proof of residence will be required. The City will share locations and additional details as soon as they are confirmed.
I will share updates as more information becomes available but strongly recommend that you follow the City of St Catharines for the most up to date information.
