Lake Manitoba Lake St Martin Channel

Manitoba News Release: Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project Reaches Milestone

From News Media Services on 2020-03-09 15:50

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March 9, 2020

The Lake Manitoba Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels project has advanced to the next phase of the assessment process, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. “Completing this crucial climate-change adaptation project – a project that will provide certainty for many communities and families – is one of our government’s top priorities and I am proud of the work we have done to reach this stage,” said Schuler.  “We are pleased to share the Environmental Impact Statement for public comment and we are eager to begin the next phase of the environmental assessment process, which is the technical review.” In 2011, Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin reached record high water levels.  The province has committed to building two permanent outlet channels to alleviate flooding in that part of the Interlake region. “We have worked hard to achieve progress on this project, spent more than $50 million in consultation and preliminary engineering, design and preparation work,” said Schuler.  “We are very pleased the federal government is committed to working together, and that we’re finally achieving progress on project timelines, while being respectful to all concerned.” Before construction begins, the project requires federal and provincial regulatory approvals.  Both governments will continue to engage in Crown-Indigenous consultations with all potentially impacted communities, and the province is in the process of signing consultation agreements with Indigenous communities. During the next stage, set to begin immediately, the federal and provincial governments will be seeking feedback from subject matter experts, the public and Indigenous communities through the public registries to address further concerns and clarification. “Jointly with our partners in the federal government, we will be investing resources to ensure meaningful consultation and co-ordination with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders,” said Schuler.  “We are confident in the merits of the project and look forward to any feedback the federal government, Indigenous groups and communities, and stakeholders will provide.” To date, the province has engaged with 39 Indigenous communities and groups identified by provincial and federal requirements, and is in the process of signing consultation agreements with 10 First Nation communities that will be impacted by the project. Increasing frequency of severe weather and flood events creates an even more pressing need to put safeguards in place to protect communities and families, the minister said.  Projects like these and other adaptation infrastructure, will help give communities and families their lives back while setting Manitoba on a course for greater security and economic certainty, he added. The public can view the Environmental Impact Statement at www.gov.mb.ca/sd/eal/registries/index.html and learn more about the outlet channels project www.manitoba.ca/outletchannels.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/ottawa-takes-step-in-moving-massive-manitoba-flood-mitigation-project-forward-568646622.html

COMMENTARY

The above news release from the Provincial Government is provided for you information. It outlines what should be the last hurdle before the channels are licensed and work begins. You may have to cut and paste to read information at the end of the article. The first link will help you understand the public input while the second will provide information about the project and process followed to complete the environmental review.

The second link is to the Winnipeg Free Press article following the government news release. I read both with astonishment that after $50 million spent on consultations with 39 Indigenous communities that the Grand Chief objects to not having been involved.

If you have a comment to make regarding the assessment you are encouraged to do so. Go to https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80148?culture=en-CA. You may read others views and add your own.

If anything those along the shores of Lake Manitoba should be indignant that they were not part of the process of the review and that no such review occurred following the flood of 2011 and enhancements at the Portage Diversion.

Likewise a group of our stakeholders should be indignant that their attempts to preserve the geo-tube installations failed with the Province and Municipalities. The overriding reason appears to be money. Because the Disaster Finance Assistance program has ended there is a cost to be borne to keep the tubes. Those few homeowners who sought to keep the protection from future flooding negotiated in good faith with their RMs to no avail. Many of these people had done what the contractor had suggested. They have back-filled, sodded and otherwise sought to beautify their property. Not only are they denied the right to protect their property but they stand to lose more money in the aftermath of the removal of the tubes.

It is fair to acknowledge that not all of our members wanted to keep the installations. However, given the expenses on consultation and many enhancements in infrastructure north of the lake, it is reasonable to conclude that our stakeholders deserved better.

Jack King