A private member's bill introduced by Essex MPP Taras Natyshak has received support from members of all parties at Queen's Park.
Bill 179 is in response to the province's support to Windsor-Essex residents following the severe flooding at the end of August, and would help families deal with recurrent flooding.
The Flood Avoidance, Insurance and Recovery Statute passed 2nd reading in the legislature and will go to the General Government committee.
New Democrat Natyshak says the province needs to support residents in these kinds of events.
"I hope the provisions built into this bill area a step forward because we can't do nothing," he says. "This is going to continue to happen our communities are going to continue to suffer and we're going to leave swaths of our communities' urban areas uninsurable and therefore uninhabitable."
Ottawa South Liberal MPP John Fraser says flooding is not unique to Windsor.
"He's responding to something that's occurred in his community that was very serious affected the lives of many people had adverse events in Ottawa South not to the extent that they've had in Windsor there are certain pockets just a few weeks ago where people really experienced great challenges."
Essex MPP Taras Natyshak addresses parliament during question period October 24, 2016 (Photo courtesy of www.ontla.on.ca)
Owen Sound PC MPP Bill Walker says the province should approve this bill.
"This legislation would ensure disaster recovery funds flow to property owners who experience water damage through sewer backup if the legislature has approved such funds," explains Walker. "We agree more can be done to prevent these types of incidents from happening and better assist those who are facing hardship due to flooding and this bill provides better protection for homeowners. The people of Windsor were left out of the province's disaster relief program and that's not right."
The bill would amend three pieces of current legislation, including changes to building codes by making a rainwater holding tank of at least 204 litres a requirement. It would also change the insurance act so a flood claim on a property where there's already been a flood can't be denied, and alter the municipal act so the province would offer disaster recovery assistance to homeowners for flood damage caused by sewer backup.