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Harper promises flood-mitigation cash

By: Keith Borkowsky

Posted: 08/3/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

GIMLI -- The federal government plans to extend funding for flood-mitigation projects, such as Shellmouth Reservoir and dam upgrades, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday.

"Obviously we have to work out the details on this, but I am convinced that a little more federal assistance to permanent mitigation would be a better investment than the money we continue to pour into tragedies and disasters on an annual basis," Harper said at a news conference in Gimli. "We can work out something that's advantageous for both governments, but the primary response rests with provincial governments."

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Harper said under the flood disaster relief program, Ottawa and the provincial government share the costs arising from the 2011 flood. The federal government, he said, has indicated to Manitoba and two other flood-affected provinces -- Saskatchewan and Quebec -- that given the scale of the problem, Ottawa is willing to cost-share permanent mitigation efforts that are put into place "as a consequence of that particular disaster."

Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette Conservative MP Robert Sopuck, who is an ecologist, said he hopes the federal response will include a water-retention strategy, a key issue in the upper Assiniboine River Valley and other parts of his riding.

"Iàwas just in McAuley country (northwest of Virden near the Saskatchewan border), and farmers are eager to have dams built on these ravines to hold water back and alleviate the downstream flooding that's occurring," Sopuck said.

"There are some very real concerns about wetland drainage in Saskatchewan. Iàthink there are some real solutions and I am eager to push them forward come the fall."

Brandon-Souris Conservative MPàMerv Tweed said he will meet with an American delegation about water issues in the near future. Flooding along the Souris River also affects communities in North Dakota. The 2011 Souris River flood devastated Minot, N.D.

"There are lots of conversations taking place between the provincial and state governments, and what Iàtry to do is to meet with U.S. governors and senators to make sure they understand we are an ally in this and are working to not just improve their situation but ours," he said.

"We are trying to work with Saskatchewan, too, to get a better management of our water systems so we don't get big floods in dry years like we are seeing now."

-- Brandon Sun

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 3, 2012 A10

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