More than three-quarters of the new funding – $ 64 million – will go to new, fireproof public buildings such as community centers and libraries. The remaining $ 13.2 million is for small and medium-sized businesses and insured property owners to rebuild fire-resistant homes. “These investments will place Lytton at the forefront, showing that sustainable, resilient, zero-sum construction is not the way of the future, it is the way of the present,” International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan wrote in a statement. The announcement comes ahead of the anniversary of the disaster on June 30, 2021. The entire village, about 150 miles northeast of Vancouver, was devastated by a fire after four days of record-breaking heat. Two people were killed. Hundreds of houses were reduced to charred rubble. Reconstruction is likely to begin in September, according to the province. Through the new Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild program, announced with funding on Tuesday, the government will provide $ 6 million in grants to homeowners “who have basic rebuilding insurance who want to rebuild homes with zero or fire resistance.” “As last year’s fire showed, the fires spread from one building to another. Having more fire-resistant homes benefits everyone in the community, and zero is good for all of us,” Sajjan said. On Friday, Ottawa also announced a $ 207 million down payment to BC as it completes applications for federal disaster relief funds for communities affected by the fires. The full request is more than double.
