Released on March 17, 2011
Changes to the Provincial Disaster Assistance Programs (PDAP) will significantly reduce the amount of time claimants wait for their claim to be processed, as program staff work toward processing remaining 2010 PDAP claims more quickly.
PDAP has received more than 5,900 claims related to flooding in 2010, more than double the previous record number of claims, set in the 2005-2006 fiscal year. To date, more than $14.5 million has been paid out, 3,900 claimants have received portions of their overall payout, and approximately 1,100 files have been closed in their entirety.
PDAP staff are working to complete the remaining claims as quickly as possible in preparation for 2011 claims resulting from potential spring flooding. To do so, PDAP will add 30 additional temporary staff to process claims, either from within government or from new hirings. As well, PDAP staff will begin working in two separate shifts, six days a week. Officials will also process claims based on their relative size and risk, among other streamlining processes.
"Our government wants to ensure flooding victims have their PDAP claims completed as quickly as possible," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister D. F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert said. "I am confident that additional staffing and process changes to PDAP will help serve the people of this province better."
From the events of 2010, PDAP experienced the largest number of claims in its history.
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For more information, contact:
Judy Orthner
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5883
Email: judy.orthner@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-2233