6 months for flood flight: Ottawa

OTTAWA -- Flood evacuees from Lake St. Martin were supposed to be able to return home within six months, but the evacuation continues a year later -- and there is no end in sight.

Aboriginal Affairs Department documents obtained through access to information show Lake St. Martin started evacuations May 8, 2011 when 175 people left the community, which is 225 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Another 249 evacuees left May 9, and 163 more left May 18, for a total of 587. Most were moved to hotels in Winnipeg, but seven were moved to hotels in Ashern and Moosehorn.

"Due to the extensive flooding... the evacuees may not be returning to their community until late fall," reads a flood update on June 8. "Discussions with federal, provincial and FN are being held to address short- and long-term solutions."

But more than a year later there is still no permanent solution and the number of evacuees has more than doubled. Some families have moved temporarily to modular homes the province has provided at a former radar base near Gypsumville. But hundreds more remain in hotels or with friends and family.

The documents show it costs $100 per person, per day. More than 4,000 First Nations residents were forced to evacuate their homes in spring 2011. At last count, about 2,200 people remain evacuees, about half of them from Lake St. Martin. Others are from Dauphin River, Fairford, Ebb and Flow, Peguis and Little Saskatchewan.

It's not clear when any of them will be able to return home.

In March, the tally for evacuees hit $40 million. Ottawa has not shared further costs despite repeated requests for the information.

Another $83 million has been spent on flood mitigation and $5.2 million was given to First Nations for flood recovery measures.

The documents represent a portion of what was requested. More documents were held back awaiting consultations with the province and First Nations involved.

They show that as of February, the federal government was looking at extending an agreement with the Salvation Army to keep educating Lake St. Martin kids in Winnipeg next fall.

Students from Lake St. Martin began attending classes in a makeshift school set up by the Salvation Army at the Weeteemah Community Centre on Logan Avenue last November. In February, federal officials wondered about schooling going forward.

"The Salvation Army lease is continuing until the end of June with an option for renewal next year," reads an internal Aboriginal Affairs Department email from Feb. 3.

A consultant for Lake St. Martin could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Sources have previously said there is a difference of opinion between Ottawa, the province and the First Nation about what should happen. The First Nation wants to move to a permanent site near Gypsumville. Federal officials believe the First Nation can mostly be rebuilt in its current location but on higher ground and with permanent dikes.

It's estimated 80 per cent of the homes on Lake St. Martin aren't fit for living because of repeated flooding.

Adding to the confusion is that Aboriginal Affairs recently identified 170 people who were ineligible to receive evacuation funding but who had registered as Lake St. Martin evacuees. AANDC reviewed the list after the Free Press questioned why the numbers of evacuees had skyrocketed to 1,268 in March, from 587 last spring.

It is currently reviewing the lists from other First Nations. All evacuees were asked to register again due to the ballooning numbers.

Earlier this month, chiefs of the reserves held a news conference to complain governments blamed the flood victims. The chiefs, including Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, said the province was responsible for the flooding.

They ended the news conference when reporters' questions became intense.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 16, 2012 A4