Residents demand relief after repeat floods
An emotionally charged Chateauguay council meeting on July 6 laid bare the strain felt by households hit by sewer backups and flooding during June’s heavy rains, as residents pressed elected officials for faster, clearer action. Several homeowners told councillors they have endured multiple incidents over the years, saying they are exhausted by recurring damage and uncertainty whenever storms roll in.
One resident, Louise Prudhomme of Sainte‑Marguerite Boulevard, described how repeated water damage undermined a planned home sale late last month, leaving her now carrying costs for both her original home and the apartment she has already moved into. In a moment that captured the room’s mood, she told council she accepted an offer simply in search of calm after years of anxiety tied to rainfall.
“After 15 showings, I finally got an offer. I accepted it even though my agent told me to keep looking, because I just wanted some peace of mind. I was worried every time it rained.”
Her buyers ultimately walked away after seeing the aftermath of the late‑June flooding, she said, returning her to square one as the community waits for infrastructure upgrades to take hold.
City to proceed with borrowing after aid refused
Mayor Eric Allard told residents the city will push ahead with targeted repairs in three areas affected by backups: Sainte‑Marguerite Boulevard, Craik Street and Dunver Street. He said the city has launched a call for bids and expects work could begin by the end of summer, following an analysis commissioned after the 2024 floods. Many of those who addressed council live near Laramée Street, close to Sainte‑Marguerite Boulevard, a cluster where residents say repeat flooding has been especially acute.
Allard said $4.6 million in financial assistance sought from senior governments was denied. In response, council has opted to proceed with a $10‑million borrowing by‑law to finance the first round of targeted work. The mayor criticized what he called inadequate support for municipal infrastructure from higher levels of government, noting that major upgrades are underway and more will be needed to reduce the risk of damage during severe weather.
| Area | Status | Funding path | Expected start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainte‑Marguerite Blvd. | Call for bids | $10M municipal borrowing | By late summer |
| Craik St. | Call for bids | $10M municipal borrowing | By late summer |
| Dunver St. | Call for bids | $10M municipal borrowing | By late summer |
Pressure builds for timing, scope and communication
Monday’s meeting ran roughly three hours as councillors heard from residents who say they have shouldered not only repeated clean‑ups but also lost property value and insurance stress tied to chronic flooding. Some said this summer marks their third or fourth incident in just a few years. Several called for clearer timelines and more transparent updates as the tenders advance.
Residents in and around Laramée Street urged the city to prioritize zones where backups have been frequent, and to stage work to keep disruption manageable. Homeowners also pressed for guidance on what protective steps to take while projects are in procurement, including temporary measures to reduce the risk of sewage backflow during intense rainfall. Council heard appeals for interim mitigation and faster response protocols during storms.
Costs mount as city juggles upgrades
Allard said Chateauguay will continue investing in system improvements aimed at limiting damage during heavy rain events, even in the absence of outside funds. He framed the borrowing by‑law as a necessary step to keep projects moving after the post‑flood analysis identified priority fixes. While he did not detail every upgrade under way, he underscored that the city expects significant costs to maintain and modernize critical pipes and related infrastructure.
For households like Prudhomme’s, timelines carry financial consequences. She told council the collapsed sale has left her paying for two homes as she waits for repairs to begin and risk to recede. Others described a similar calculus: how long to stay, what improvements to make on their own, and whether prospective buyers will balk at properties in flood‑prone pockets.
What happens next
City staff will manage the tendering process for the three targeted areas identified by council, after which contractors can mobilize. The administration has not released a detailed construction schedule, but the mayor said shovels could be in the ground before fall. Council members encouraged residents to continue documenting incidents and to report issues promptly so the city can track patterns as it prioritizes further work.
- Call for bids has been initiated for work on Sainte‑Marguerite, Craik and Dunver.
- $4.6M in external aid was refused; $10M municipal borrowing will fund the first phase.
- Residents from the Laramée area and nearby streets pressed for interim measures and clear timelines.
As Chateauguay moves through procurement, residents say they will be watching closely for visible progress. Council, for its part, is betting that speeding targeted fixes—despite the lack of senior government assistance—will reduce the risk of the next downpour turning again into a costly emergency.
