Outlet channels project data still missing: Ottawa

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This article was published 12/06/2022 (830 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An environmental review of the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlet channels megaproject has once again been put on hold, after the provincial government left out essential information in its latest submission to Ottawa.

On June 6, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada told the province it still needed a number of analyses, maps, figures and documents to proceed with a review of its $600-million channels project connecting Lake Manitoba to Lake St. Martin, and Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg.

Last month, Manitoba submitted a package in response to the agency’s 2020 requests for additional and missing information about environmental impact. However, in a letter to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, the agency noted 21 information requests were still outstanding.

“This is yet another example that the consultation and environmental process has been slow, lacking commitment from the province, and seems to be responsible for contributing to delays,” NDP Leader Wab Kinew said in an interview Friday.

The Manitoba Opposition leader attributed the latest setback to a government “not committed to details.”

“The real concern I have is for folks upstream for this project who are going to be impacted by flooding,” Kinew said, noting the outlet channels are one of the province’s key flood-mitigation efforts. “Why is the government mired in delays and why does the government not appear to take the approvals process seriously?”

According to the letter, the IAAC acknowledged required environmental management plans would be submitted by the province at the end of the month. However, information previously requested in April and July 2020 was missing or incomplete in the May 2022 response.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the Progressive Conservative government needs to put more resources into the channel project to get it built.

“They’re missing basic, really important stuff about water flows and engineering plans. Their report itself is referring to things and they haven’t attached everything,” Lamont said. “This is supposed to be a really important project but for whatever reason the PCs have not been able to get it together to do it without cutting corners.

“They seem absolutely determined to do it, but they’re not determined not to do it right.”

Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk was not available for an interview Friday. According to his press secretary, the minister was in the Thompson area and in and out of cellphone range.

In a statement, Piwniuk’s office said the provincial and federal governments are working collaboratively through the environmental assessment process, but did not say why requested information was not included in the May submission.

Rather, Piwniuk’s office said the province’s response to the IAAC was a significant step toward receiving environmental approvals for the channels project.

“The Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin channels project is a priority for the province as a significant step in Manitoba’s long-term climate resiliency and flood mitigation plan to provide improved flood protection for Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin,” the statement said.

All outstanding information is expected to be submitted by June 30, the statement noted.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

Danielle Da Silva
Reporter

Danielle Da Silva is a general assignment reporter.

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