Forgone revenue of $130K to replace passports, papers lost in Fort McMurray fire
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Waiving fees to replace passports and other documents lost in last year’s Fort McMurray wildfire cost Ottawa almost $130,000 in forgone revenue.
The May 2016 disaster displaced more than 80,000 people in the northern Alberta city for at least a month as flames consumed one-tenth of its buildings.
“At that time, it was deemed in the public interest to assist in providing a quick return to normalcy for individuals whose lives were affected, many of whom were in crisis situations for long periods of time,” says a note accompanying a remission order posted on the federal government’s website this week.
“They experienced loss of income, employment, unanticipated out-of-pocket expenses and interim costs pending insurance and provincial assistance. Replacement costs for the documents would have imposed an additional burden.”