General Program for Financial Assistance During Disasters — Businesses and Rental Building Owners

• Two contractor quotes
• Required permits and authorizations
• Municipal resolution, if the land is transferred
• Notarized deed proving land transfer, at the end of the work
• Municipal attestation confirming removal of residual foundations, at the end of the work

Who is eligible?

• Businesses affected by an eligible disaster
• Rental building owners
• Self-employed workers, partnerships, corporations, cooperatives, and non-profits
• Condominium syndicates and access-road maintenance associations

Who is not eligible

• Public or parapublic organizations
• Governmental organizations
• Banks and authorized financial institutions
• Businesses whose losses are covered by insurance, where the program does not apply

Eligible expenses

• Temporary preventive measures
• Urgent and temporary work
• Moving or storage costs
• Building, access road, and asset repairs
• Immunization, relocation, and departure-related costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Losses covered by another source
• Insured losses, except where otherwise allowed
• Vehicle losses, unless part of business stock
• Loss of revenue and interest charges
• Permits and other excluded items listed by the program

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec
• Eligible municipalities and territories designated by the ministry for each disaster

• Alignment with an eligible disaster situation
• Damage assessment and program compliance
• Feasibility and safety of the chosen option
• Support from required technical documents and estimates

• Step 1: Confirm the disaster is eligible
  • Check the list of eligible disasters and municipalities.
  • Contact your municipality and insurer.
• Step 2: Prepare the application
  • Complete the required claim form.
  • Gather the supporting documents for your situation.
• Step 3: Submit the application
  • Send the signed forms and documents by online service, email, or mail.
  • Keep copies of all documents and invoices.
• Step 4: Follow up on the file
  • Respond to requests for additional information.
  • Receive the damage report, if applicable, and continue with the next steps.

• Application is received and eligibility is validated.
• The ministry may contact the applicant for clarifications or a site visit.
• An expert damage assessment may be completed and a damage report issued.
• An advance may be paid after review, with later partial or final payments based on documents and work progress.
• A formal choice may be required for relocation, immunization, or departure options, and the applicant must sign the agreement and comply with program conditions.

• Assistance is a last resort.
• Contact your insurer before applying.
• Applications are processed by the Ministry of Public Security.
• For some cases, the applicant may need to choose between repair, relocation, immunization, or an allocation of departure.