6 years after massive flood, Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac to pay $32M in settlements

The City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que., on Montreal's North Shore, will have to pay $32 million to settle several lawsuits related to the 2019 flood, Radio-Canada is reporting.

About 100 citizens, businesses and insurance companies filed claims in the aftermath of the disaster on April 27, 2019.

The breach of the dike holding back the Lake of Two Mountains caused the flooding of some 2,500 homes and forced the emergency evacuation of more than 6,000 people.

The payment will settle individual damage claims, but there is a pending request for a class action lawsuit as well as a pair of damage claims filed over the construction of the new dike.

Last December, the City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, the Quebec government and all plaintiffs agreed to settle the dispute in an amicable settlement conference chaired by Quebec Superior Court Justice Paul Mayer. 

Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac Mayor François Robillard said he was pleased to have reached an agreement.

He said he could not disclose more information regarding the amount of the settlement while the city is before the courts. However, he said the municipality of 20,000 residents won't be the only party responsible for the payment.