Lake MB Flood Rehabilitation Committee Seeks Proposed Channel Data And Consultation With Government
The Lake Manitoba Flood Rehabilitation Committee met with government officials for clarification about plans to lower the level of Lake Manitoba immediately and into next spring. However officials say information isn't available for the public.
Online, August 11, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Lake Manitoba Flood Rehabilitation Committee (LMFRC) met with government officials for further clarification about plans to lower the level of Lake Manitoba immediately and into next spring. The committee was told a 30-member engineering team worked around the clock to analyze every possible channel option.
However, officials including Infrastructure and Transportation Deputy Minister Doug McNeil and Manitoba Water Stewardship's Steve Topping, said the detailed information was not prepared for public distribution at this time. The LMFRC hopes the province will consider sharing this information with taxpayers across the province as it becomes available.
"We are grateful the government is moving forward with a project that will improve the drainage of Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin. The LMFRC feels the rural municipalities should have access to the information used in designing the emergency drainage channels and should be involved in this process," says Tom Teichroeb, LMFRC Chairperson.
Frustrating to the LMFRC is the constant refrain from Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Steve Ashton that the government is collaborating with municipalities. To date, the LMFRC has not been involved in any consultation about the emergency drainage channel.
"Not one municipality has received one phone call looking for information about these proposed routes," says Teichroeb. "Telling us their plan is not consultation. The people who earn their living on and around this lake would like to be involved in the decisions that are affecting the management of Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin."
The Lake Manitoba Flood Rehabilitation Committee represents 11 municipalities surrounding Lake Manitoba. It gives voice to the urgent needs of all residents and businesses for an immediate solution to the flooding. It seeks adequate and inclusive compensation for the rehabilitation of land, businesses and residential properties damaged by the man-made flooding of Lake Manitoba.
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For more information, contact:
Tom Teichroeb, LMFRC Chair
E a8ranch@mts.net
P 204-445-2319
Joe Johnson, LMFRC Co-Chair
E joeandlydiajohnson@gmail.com
P 204-445-2265
Krista Simonson, LMFRC Media Coordinator
E krista@windbreakcommunications.com
P 204.219.5067