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Gerrard releases final flood report; criticizes NDP's 'bureaucratic chaos'

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 10/4/2012 12:46 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 10/4/2012 1:14 PM | Updates

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Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store

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- Liberals' Final 2011 Flood Report

Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard released his final report on the 2011 flood today with 65 recommendations on how the province can do a better job protecting Manitobans.

The recommendations include:

changes to water management in Manitoba, including water retention and wetland preservation to decrease the extent of large scale flooding
faster recovery after a flood to streamline assistance and help people get back in their homes, or find alternatives much more quickly
regulated levels on Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin, including building a new channel from Watchorn Bay on Lake Manitoba to Birch Creek on Lake St. Martin, plus added capacity from Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg to move water more quickly without causing flooding.

"The NDP must eliminate the bureaucratic chaos they have created for flood-affected Manitobans who trusted them to be properly compensated in a timely fashion," Gerrard said in a statement. "The province has created so many departments and policies for flood-affected Manitobans that the continual shuffle back and forth is impeding the rebuilding of local economies and needlessly adding to the considerable stress that so many face."

The Liberals' final 2011 Flood Report can be found on the Manitoba Liberal Party website.

Gerrard’s report comes as the province’s 2011 Manitoba Flood Review Task Force and the Lake Manitoba/Lake St. Martin Regulation Review Committee continue on their own reports on last year’s flood. Public hearings were held last month.

Flood-affected Manitobans can still contact the committees via their websites at www.2011manitobafloodreviewtaskforce.ca and http://www.lakemanitobalakestmartinregulationreview.ca/. Open house materials are available online for those unable to attend.

The 2011 Manitoba Flood Review Task Force was appointed by the Selinger government to independently examine a range of matters related to last year's flood including preparedness and response, flood forecasting, public communications, operation of flood control infrastructure and flood protection.

The Lake Manitoba/Lake St. Martin Regulation Review Committee is looking at the operation of provincial water control structures and water levels on Lake Manitoba, Lake St. Martin and associated waterways.

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Updated on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 1:14 PM CDT: adds link to PDF of report

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