The tornado ripped off roofs, damaged hundreds of homes and knocked out power for thousands of residents in Vaughan. But the province, itself reeling from a $24 billion deficit, says that is not a disaster."If this wasn't a disaster I don't know what qualifies," said Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson. "It was a disaster and we need help."More than 600 Vaughan homes were damaged; 38 were declared unsafe to live in. The estimate for public damage and recovery costs is about $730,000.Vaughan has asked for about $400,000, most of that related to overtime pay for city workers, Jackson said.A letter from Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson to the mayor's office explained that Vaughan didn't meet the criteria set out by the ministry's Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.A ministry spokesman described the program as a "last resort" for municipalities that need a hand to get back on their feet.The program "is really intended for use in exceptional circumstances, where the event was of such magnitude that it is beyond the ability of the municipality to manage," said Adam Grachnik."Vaughan, as a municipality, we determined has it within their fiscal capacity to manage it."Grachnik said the province considers the magnitude and historic nature of the event, the budget of the municipality affected, the type and cost of damage to the public and private sectors, insurance and the community resources available.Jackson said being denied was a disappointment, "especially when you have the premier who shows up and commits to helping us."Days after the tornado touched down, Premier Dalton McGuinty toured Vaughan, expressing surprise that the tornado had, "tossed cars around like toys."Grachnik said the towns of Durham and Gravenhurst, which were also affected, did not apply under the aid program.After the storm, the province's disaster assessment teams and workers from the Ministry of Natural Resources stepped in to help with cleanup.Ministry staff continue to work with Vaughan and "met with municipal staff to clarify ODRAP matters," Grachnik said.Vaughan is not the only city to be denied disaster status by the province. In September, Hamilton was rejected after mid-summer flooding damaged more than 7,000 homes."It was a disaster – it was, " said Robert Rossini, Hamilton's general manager of finance and corporate services. "There were pictures there where streets were turned into rivers."But smaller communities have benefited.The province has extended a hand, through ODRAP, to three rural communities including Renfrew County, after heavy rains damaged croplands.Flooding in Haldimand County will lead to a payment of $180,000. Similar damage in Wallaceburg will result in a $40,000 payment. In Vaughan, residents who felt the tornado's wrath feel the province should reconsider its decision.Woodbridge resident Luciano Baldin was surprised the government shied away from using the term "disaster" for the tornado that tore apart houses on his street."The fact is, even though it wasn't a humongous scale, it is a disaster. My neighbours across the street, six or seven homes, got hit very bad ... If they don't consider that a disaster, what is a disaster to them? When people die or when more houses are hit?"Jackson said being declared a disaster area would have made it easier for the city to access additional forms of support.She plans to call the minister's office next week to discuss options. Meanwhile, Vaughan is awaiting a complete estimate of the tornado's toll from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, she said.If no help comes from the province, Jackson said, she hopes the federal government will step in.A grant from Parks Canada, for instance, would prevent the burden of dealing with 1,200 destroyed trees destroyed from falling on taxpayers, she said.
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