Published July 17, 2013



LAC-MÉGANTIC — Federal aid is coming to town, but when, how much and how it will be spent is not clear following a visit from new federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt on Wednesday.

Speaking outside the local high school that has served as a shelter and command post for social services over the past two weeks in Lac-Mégantic, Raitt vowed support for the suffering community, saying that the explosion that claimed 50 lives, as well as the downtown core, has affected all of Canada.

"I think what's important is that we tell the province and the municipality ... that we are there to help them in whatever way they think needs to happen for reconstruction of the community and emergency cleanup," she said, flanked by Mégantic—L'Érable MP and International Development Minister Christian Paradis.

When pressed for specifics, Raitt would not give details on how much the federal government would be willing to chip in to pay for emergency services or for reconstruction efforts, citing that "the difficult part is understanding the pure quantum of what we're looking at."

Raitt, who assumed the head job at Transport Canada on Monday following a cabinet shuffle, also praised the investigators at the Sûreté du Québec and Transportation Safety Board, saying those under her at Transport Canada are working closely with the TSB. Raitt also said that any policy initiatives would have to wait until the inquiry is completed.

Paradis made a short statement in French reiterating some of what was said by Raitt, but refused to take questions.

An hour before Raitt and Paradis' appearance, Lac-Mégantic Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche said she would be unable to comment on the possibility of federal funds until she had met with Raitt.

Brandishing an insurance cheque for $1 million, Roy-Laroche and l'Union des municipalités du Québec president Éric Forest said towns in the area and in the United States are "a united front" on railway safety.

"We need to ensure (economic) development, but it must be safe," he said, calling for measures to improve transport infrastructure as well as emergency protocols.

At a UMQ meeting on Tuesday, several municipal leaders expressed concern over the future of railways that run near or through their towns. "There are not many mayors who would say they want no rail transport, but all the mayors are concerned," said Forest. "We're going to have a plan to secure this type of transport."

Forest said that while there are no concrete plans for the $1 million, "local authorities will determine exactly where they'll spend it."

A delegation from Maine, including Daniel Deveau, the state's ombudsman for Canadian trade, and Senator Tom Saviello, also stopped at the high school.

Saviello said he was unable to discuss any legislative initiatives regarding railroad safety, as the legislature is not currently in session, but pointed to Governor Paul LePage ordering a safety review of the freight train industry as evidence of the state government's proactive stance.

"I came up here to say we're here for you just like our firemen were, and we're trying to find out how we can help your community and not get in the way," said Saviello, adding that he is aiming to ensure that members of his constituency know what is needed should they plan on making donations to relief efforts.

When asked if the deadly incident will affect cross-border trade, Deveau said he expects rail traffic to be restricted.

"It will be a bottleneck, no question about it," he said.

A spokesperson for the Quebec coroner's office said Wednesday afternoon that the identities of five more victims of the Lac-Mégantic derailment have been determined, bringing the number of identified victims to 17.

Names will likely be made public Friday morning on Quebec coroner's website, said Geneviève Guilbault.

No additional bodies were recovered from the rubble Wednesday, with the total number of confirmed victims remaining at 38, among the 50 presumed dead.

akovac@montrealgazette.com

Twitter: AdamJKovac

