Subject: Flood Claims
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:45:03 -0500
From: Bruce Hymers <bdhymers@mts.net>
To: Jeff Douglas <jeffdouglas@shaw.ca>
Hi Jeff. maybe you can pass this info. along. My
wife & I went set up an appointment with the M.A.S.C. ( Manitoba Agriculture
Service Corporation ) in Portage La Prairie this morning and found it quite
enlightening. When I first phoned them they said come on in and “someone would
be available” to talk to us. I was a little skeptical of the response but much
to our surprise several people were available to talk to.
First, the directions to get there are a little
fuzzy, (typical country type of directions ……. “they are in the Portage Mall
in the same parking lot as Tim Hortons” ……….. if you have been to Portage La Prairie then you know
exactly where this is). For those who haven’t been there, the Portage Mall is on
the west side of the city on the north side of Saskatchewan Ave. and yes it is
in the same lot as Tim Horton’s. There is no signs to guide you so just go into
the mall and the M.A.S.C. office is right there ( beside the old Safeway
location). Everyone there is friendly and will ask you if you have been looked
after.
We first talked to a fellow named Dave and found
out this program office is new, he had been hired as a temporary and they are
hiring more people. It seems that the powers to be have underestimated the scope
of the problem and are trying to catch up. It’s just like the water, “don’t know
how much going in nor how high it’s going to be, just try to keep up to it !”
Dave explained what this office is doing and what they will cover and since we
are permanent residences he took us down to T.A.P. ( Temporary Accommodation
Program ) in the same mall and we talked with them. The material and receipts we
had to submit were together, since no one told us what form or what they need.
The young lady went through our material and took out what TAP would cover.
Since ESS ( Emergency Social Services ) has handed over our file to them, they
will start covering all our rents and utilities starting July 17. All the rest
of our material was taken back to M.A.S.C. and gone over to see where it would
fall. As far as I can tell right now everything we submitted to date will be
covered which is comforting to us. One item came across as typical government
……. they have no provisions to cover “capital items” ( pumps, ATVs, back
hoes etc.) but will cover the rent for them which also includes “if you buy
something like a pump, you can rent it to yourself up to the cost of the pump
(item) and it will be covered” ….. ???!!! like I said, typical government.
They are also very conscious of auditing by the Fed. Govn’t.
If anyone is planning to submit claims to M.A.S.C.
I would strongly suggest they itemize everything and copy ALL
receipts for submission. Make a comprehensive list of all dates and hours you
have spent fighting the flood. Even if you don’t think they will accept it
submit anyway. Let them deny it. Remember this is just a first submission. They
will be expecting follow on submissions to the top limit as time and expenses
mount. Also it is best to make time and talk
directly to them at their office. A face to face meeting allows you and
them to exchange questions, do not try to do this over the phone or fax, all you
will accomplish is frustration and lost time. We know from talking to them that
our claim is being handled with the attention it is due and we will be expecting
another cheque(s) soon.
Hope this helps …………….
Bruce Hymers
TLBS Lot
