Manitoba monitors B.C. flooding for hit on economy

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This article was published 17/11/2021 (1037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The provincial government is monitoring the fallout from flooding in British Columbia and expects the disaster will affect Manitoba’s economy, Premier Heather Stefanson says.

Stefanson spoke at the annual general meeting of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association Thursday. Thee flooding, which has taken out highways and rail lines, and cut off the vital shipping route from the Port of Vancouver to the rest of the country, shows the importance of infrastructure on Canada’s economy, she said.

“I know what’s happening in B.C…. will have significant impacts on all of us, certainly in Western Canada, indeed, across our country,” said Stefanson.

“This is something we are going to have to work together as provinces to ensure we can get out of this and help our neighbours out in B.C. get through this devastating time.”

Stefanson said she has spoken to B.C. Premier John Horgan.

Her speech to association members at the meeting, which was held virtually, touched on the Tory government’s infrastructure budget, including $500 million for highways and airport infrastructure. She left before the customary question and answer session with delegates following her speech.

“I want to acknowledge, as well, that your scheduling conflicts prevent a Q and A. That happens, we understand,” said Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president Chris Lorenc. “We will be able to put those questions to (Infrastructure) Minister (Ron) Schuler.”

Stefanson responded: “I look forward to future opportunities where we will have that dialogue and that Q and A moving forward.”

In recent days, the new premier has been criticized for making few public appearances and failing to tell the media about them so they can interview her.

The Free Press asked the premier’s office to explain why Stefanson left the association’s virtual meeting without taking questions from its members.

A spokeswoman for the premier later said Stefanson had to meet with the Winnipeg Police Association, the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, and prepare for a meeting with the province’s grand chiefs on Friday.

Later, Schuler told representatives of the heavy construction industry that the Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin channel outlet project is still moving forward, albeit slowly.

The recent federal cabinet shuffle and the Sept. 20 federal election put discussions on hold, but “we can now get back to having conversations with the federal government,” he said.

“We just went through a year of drought and two years before that we had a one-in-1,000-year rain event. Now is the time to build these climate resiliency projects… we don’t want to have happen what’s happening in British Columbia.”

The outlet is the last major work to be done stemming from the 1950 flood and its aftermath, Schuler said.

“Over 50 or 60 years, we have built all kinds of structures, the floodway, etc. This is the last piece that comes under the 1950 flood… and then we have to go back and start updating what we have built and bring it up to one in 1,000.”

In addition, it is a provincial priority to have the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg upgraded to freeway status by the time the city has one million people, he said.

“Modern cities across the world have it and it is time for Manitoba to get on board,” he said.

The next step will be to upgrade the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 75 to freeway status, Schuler said.

“Next year, you will hear a little bit more about that,” he said.

“I suspect… it will not happen in my lifetime, but we should start planning for it.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca