New mapping to increase Quebec homes in flood zones by about 30%

The number of Quebec homes located in flood zones will likely increase by 30 per cent when new maps are introduced next year, the province's environment minister said Thursday.

At a news conference on Quebec's new guidelines to manage flooding, Benoit Charette said the government's goal is to protect people and their properties, and to make sure residents understand the risk they're exposed to. The number of homes in flood zones, he said, should rise to 35,000 from about 25,000.

"We want to make sure people have the right information about where they live," he said. "Today that's not the case because many of these [maps] are as old as 30 years, so they're not up to date."

The new maps have not been published and the new framework only comes into effect in March 2026.

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