Last July, 204 residents of Sandy Lake stayed in Arthur for a week after forest fires in northern Ontario threatened their First Nations community.
Now, over eight months after the week-long humanitarian effort, as the financial costs of the operation are more clear, the Advertiser has received many inquiries about the operation from county residents.
Figures supplied by Wellington County spokesman Andrea Ravensdale indicate the operation cost a total of $407,215 – $189,221 for the county and $217,994 for Wellington North Township. All costs were reimbursed by the federal government with refunds flowing through the province.
“We could have done it a lot cheaper our way, but we weren’t allowed to,” said Wellington North Mayor Ray Tout. “Our hands were tied.” He specifically mentioned local service clubs and community groups that offered to make meals but were turned down because Ministry of Health officials dictated an accredited food service must be used. As a result, the cost for meals alone exceeded $65,000.
Some county residents have directed personal criticism at Tout, who was paid $8,900 for his role in the evacuation. Wellington North councillors Mark Goetz ($275) and Sherry Burke ($990) were also compensated in connection with the operation.
Tout said all employees and elected officials from the county and township were directed to sign in and sign out at the scene, then compensated later – “unbeknownst to us” – as the province deemed appropriate.
The mayor’s role as “incident commander,” the top official on the grid, resulted in the $8,900 payment, he added.
“I had no idea the province was paying for that,” Tout said.
He stressed the province requested the township host the Sandy Lake evacuees, and because the township and county declared a state of emergency, the province is required to cover all costs associated with the operation.
Tout acknowledged that in the end it’s all taxpayers’ money, but he scoffed at those individuals and media outlets who suggested close to $9,000 is “good pay” for a week’s worth of work.
“That’s totally untrue,” Tout said. “There was a heck of a lot more work involved than seven days.”
He explained the evacuation took him – as well as Ravensdale and Linda Dickson, the county’s community emergency management coordinator – away from their regular duties for about two and a half weeks.
“They were long, gruelling days, but there was so much to do,” Tout said.
He told the Advertiser there were many costs officials did not even consider, but as for the total bill, he said, “We actually came in at less than what the province expected.”
Ravensdale said there were no bills for any county councillors, other than Tout. Total county costs for the evacuation, which were offset by $481 in donations, included:
– $103,034 for “emergency operations” such as time, meals and travel for staff;
– $65,136 for meals;
– $9,598 for personal care;
– $5,737 for “liaisons;”
– $2,087 for recreation;
– $2,066 for accommodations, including cots, pillows and bedding; and
– $2,043 for transportation.
The costs for Wellington North were $83,592 for accommodations (facility fees, utilities, supplies and maintenance), $82,382 for emergency operations, $42,928 for security, $2,735 for transportation, $2,440 for meals, $2,114 for recreation and $1,803 for personal care.
Tout said he understands concerns with the costs.
“But you have to remember, you could also be the victim,” he said. Reflecting on the experience, he noted officials agreed they would do it all over again if given the opportunity.
“Were we in it for the money? Absolutely not,” said Tout. “We jumped in for humanitarian reasons … it was a positive experience all the way through.”
