On August 31, 2011 a meeting with the Provincial Conservative Party was hosted by the Twin Lakes Beach Association and the Association of Lake Manitoba Stakeholders. The purpose of the meeting was to clarify the Party’s position on some key issues related to the flooding of Lake Manitoba. Attending for the Conservatives were: Stu Briese (MLA Saint Rose now Agassiz), Ralph Eichler (MLA Lakeside), Steve Lupky (Candidate Interlake), Blaine Pedersen (MLA Carmen now Midland) and Ian Wishart (Candidate Portage La Prairie). The moderator was Dennis Turek.
Lake Level. The Party intends to follow the recommendations of the Lake Manitoba Regulation Review Advisory Committee (2003) which recommended a water level range for the lake between 810.5 – 812.5 feet above sea level. They will call for improvement to make the Shellmouth Dam more effective, establish a long-term watershed management plan and launch a revitalization program for damaged beaches in consultation with RMs and property owners. They support the primary emergency channel being dug at Lake St. Martin and the secondary channel east of Fairford. They noted that their consultations lead the Party to believe that two emergency channels should be constructed to hasten the outflow through Lake St. Martin. Their general guiding principal with water levels of the lake is that water inflows have to be balanced with outflow.
Compensation. They plan to honor existing funding programs. They would have had one unified registration for program funding with one coordinated government funding agency. The existing distinction between permanent residents and cottagers would remain. All programs will be re-evaluated as part of the post-flood review.
Business Losses. Current program funds go to those directly affected by the flood waters. Many businesses suffered loss of revenue owing to the evacuation. They would look to the 1997 Jobs and Economic Recovery Initiative (JERI) program used successfully to provide some help to businesses.
School Tax. As announced previously their position will be to remove school tax from the property tax assessments.
Buyouts. They would offer buy out packages to property owners where it is not feasible to rebuild or repair.
Several attendees participated by making statements or raising questions. One person noted that it appears the interest of the few have trumped the many in the Fairford/Lake St. Martin area of the province. It appears the government fears dealing with First Nations communities. Another commented that both parties share the blame for the mismanagement of the Portage Diversion as both were in power since its construction. Another cited high phosphorous levels going into the lake along with the high volumes of water as cause to shut down the diversion.
Announcements: MACO School Tax Rally at the Leg Sept 15 at 7:00pm and a Bipole Rally at the Leg at noon on Sept 20.
