Mayor says sewage spill a reminder projects in limbo

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This article was published 27/04/2022 (930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Brian Bowman is renewing calls for the province to pony up cash for infrastructure upgrades in the wake of 60 million litres of diluted sewage being dumped into the Red River.

The city allowed the sewage to flow into the river from April 23 to 25 to prevent it from backing up into basements, when a major storm overwhelmed the south end sewage treatment plant.

Bowman told media the latest sewage spill highlights the need to promptly fund major projects that would prevent wastewater from winding up in rivers and lakes.

“It underscores why we’ve been investing so much (to reduce) combined sewer overflows and why we’ve increased the annual investments from $30 million to $45 million (from 2024 to 2027 to reduce that type of spill). Of course, we would welcome the support of other levels of government to help expedite things even further,” he said.

The mayor said sewage spills are not only “gross” and unsightly but cause environmental damage that warrants attention. On Thursday, he echoed a frequent municipal call for the province and feds to commit cash to expedite the $2.3-billion master plan to reduce combined sewer overflows. Those overflows occur when heavy rain or snow overwhelms older sewers that collect precipitation and wastewater in a single pipe, causing them to overflow into rivers.

Bowman said the city should also explore additional steps to reduce spills.

“I don’t think we should say, ‘We’ve stepped up by tens of millions of dollars (for) the investments (so) we’re good. I think we need to be open to (other) ways we can… try to mitigate and speed up diversions,” he said.

The mayor accused the provincial government of adding “caveats” to its support for the second phase of the $1.85-billion north end sewage treatment plant upgrade, which he says are delaying the project.

The province denies that claim.

If approved, the city, province and feds would spend a combined $552 million for the second phase of that project.

The province had wanted the city to explore private operations of the upgrade, which the city rejected. Bowman says the province now wants to involve the Canada Infrastructure Bank in the project, a change he said would delay the tri-government funding request.

The infrastructure bank funds public-private partnerships.

Bowman did not specifically blame Premier Heather Stefanson for the delay, stating she’s “trying to resolve” the matter.

But he said there is a provincial delay and no federal holdup.

“The prime minister is very clear (saying) ‘let’s get on with this’ and that’s my sentiment as well,” he said.

The mayor also accused the province of adding conditions to its support for a separate tri-government funding request in which the three levels of government would spend a combined $538 million on the first steps of the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan.

“We’re now in 2022 and we want to see that project move forward and (not)… move back to more debate and dialogue. We need to proceed on that as quickly as possible,” said Bowman.

The mayor told reporters there appears to be some disagreement over the number of zero-emission buses in the plan, though he did not offer details.

The city and province held a joint news conference in November to announce support for both projects, which would still require federal approval.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Stefanson said the province is “eager” to see both projects move forward despite “confusion” at the municipal level.

“Both of these important climate adaptation projects have been advanced by the province to Infrastructure Canada and the federal review process is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.

The statement said the north end sewage upgrade funding awaits a final business case from the city, while the transit request is being reviewed by federal officials.

“Despite provincial questions about whether the project should involve more zero-emission buses than diesel buses, given the 20-year life span of the diesel buses and environmental considerations, we understand the project is advancing in accordance with the city’s original plan,” the spokesperson said.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga