In 2017 and 2019, Quebec was struck with severe spring flooding.
In the Spring of 2019, floods affected more than 250
municipalities, damaged thousands of residences and forced the
evacuation of over 13,500 people. Following these incidents,
municipalities and the Quebec government were criticized for
issuing construction permits in flood zones over the years. In
response, the government has set up a ministerial action group to
better address the needs of those affected, prepare Quebec for
spring flooding in the future and ensure strict management of flood
zones.
In the wake of these events, the government published the Draft Order respecting the declaration of a
special planning zone to promote better management of flood
zones (Draft Order) on June 17, 2019, which establishes a
special planning zone (SPZ) in 0-20-year flood zones, as well as in
areas that experienced flooding in 2017 and 2019. The Draft Order
placed a freeze on the construction and reconstruction of
