Laurentian town sues Quebec, alleging it neglected to repair dike

More than 1,000 residents of Chute-Saint-Philippe and Lac-des-Écorces were forced to evacuate preventively in December 2023 for 11 days

A municipality in the Laurentians is suing the Quebec government for allegedly neglecting to maintain the Morier dike and risking its collapse.

More than 1,000 residents of Chute-Saint-Philippe and Lac-des-Écorces were forced to evacuate preventively in December 2023 for 11 days after a routine inspection of the provincially owned dike showed signs of erosion.

The plaintiffs — Chute-Saint-Philippe Mayor Normand St-Amour and town manager Éric Paiement — are each seeking $350,000 in damages as well as $100,000 for the municipality and $70,000 to cover fees for experts.

They are also asking for the government to enhance maintenance procedures, including mandating — at its own expense — an independent group of experts to evaluate the Morier dike and submit a detailed report on its condition.