Federal government compensating Alberta $2.8 billion for flood claims

CALGARY – Ottawa has earmarked $2.8 billion to pay for Alberta’s flood recovery costs.

Federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney says the amount is less than the $3.1 billion Alberta had asked for following the devastating floods that hit southern Alberta in June.

He says the number isn’t written in stone and could be slightly higher or lower once all the claims are in.

Kenney says it’s too soon to says when the province will receive all of that cash.

Kenney pointed out that under the disaster assistance agreement between Ottawa and the provinces, the federal government reimburses provinces for up to 90 per cent of approved disaster costs, but that 90 per cent figure is not guaranteed.