by JR King
With another year passing, it seems appropriate to reflect on 2019.
The Lake Manitoba – Lake St. Martin channel, has had little progress to report. The environmental assessment statement delivered to the Federal government was poorly received. In a prior post links to the Environmental Impact Statement to the Province was provided. Most have found that Statement confusing at best and overall disheartening.
We have arranged a meeting on December 16 with Christine Baljko Project Director – Environment and Consultation to be briefed on the Province’s plan moving forward. We will report on that meeting and a plan to hold an information session for members.
Premier Pallister continues to give priority to the project. He has referred to the egress in the recent speech from the throne and in news reports since dealing with infrastructure projects in Canada. Former Minister of Infrastructure, Blaine Pederson, gave a prophetic statement of concern regarding the implementation of Bill 69. (Pederson, March 2019)
The prospect of flooding on the lake seem low to moderate always dependent on the running of the Portage Diversion, inflows from the Waterhen and winter precipitation. The Shellmouth Reservoir is being drawn to down in anticipation of spring melt. It seems certain that the Diversion will run with rising water on the Red. The current lake level sits near the middle of the operating range at 811.54,
There is much to be proud of in our communities. The Delta Beach Association has reported progress with clean up, beautification and safety projects. St. Laurent and Woodlands were forced to remove most geotubes with the Disaster Finance Assistance program ending. Some isolated stretches temporarily retained the tubes negotiating with the municipalities. Overall the resiliency of members was tested in the aftermath of the flood. Communities along the lake have seen unprecedented building and restoration at great personal expense – emotional as well as financial.
Rest assured the executive reminds government of the hardship suffered by the flooding in 2011 and 2014. We remind them that there are environmental costs of not protecting our lake from high water events. The erosion of banks and topsoil from property, destruction of marshland, proliferation of invasive fish and loss of mature trees all impacted farmers, ranchers, fishers and recreation. The human toll resulting in friends and neighbors with health issues and deaths in many cases are linked with the stress of the events.
Many have the opinion that at times we feel forgotten as media seems more focused on our neighbors north of the lake. Our consistent message has been that we acknowledge hardship overall including the displacement that people in all areas experienced in 2011. We are careful to not overstate the problems while shining a little light on a more complete picture of reality.
We were pleased with the interest of members at our Annual General Meeting. We elected an executive to soldier on in 2020. The prevailing attitude is that we have to advocate for the channel project though to completion and for whatever flood mitigation can be put in place in the interim. With other groups inactive, we feel a sense of responsibility to members to give voice to their opinions, frustrations and ideas.
The Executive wishes you a Merry Christmas and peace in 2020.
Jack King, President, Association of Lake Manitoba Stakeholders (ALMS)
