Carney’s support for controversial sand mine sparks criticism

Prime Minister Mark Carney has thrown his support behind the controversial Sio Silica sand mine in southeast Manitoba before its second, scaled-down proposal has been licensed.

At the G7 leaders summit Wednesday, Carney trumpeted the memorandum of understanding signed by Manitoba’s Sio Silica and solar technology manufacturer RCT Solutions in Germany to extract sand from a large area east of Winnipeg and turn it into solar panels.

In a news readout, Carney said he met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the summit in France and that both welcomed “new investment partnerships” between the two nations, including two in Manitoba to “support a high-purity silica project, to extract 99.9 per cent-plus pure silica sand, highly valued for manufacturing solar panels and semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and defence-related technologies.”

It said the second partnership involves Sio Silica, RCT Solutions and the Southern Chiefs Organization to build a fully integrated solar manufacturing hub in Manitoba.

Sio Silica said Wednesday that its “strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives” are designed to reinforce Canada’s position as a global leader in critical minerals and advanced manufacturing strategy. It has entered into MOUs with Germany-based RCT Solutions GmbH and U.S.-based NanoXSolar for the potential “offtake” of high-purity silica from “Sio Silica’s world-class project in southeast Manitoba,” a company news release said.

“These partnerships demonstrate the global significance of Manitoba’s high-purity silica resource and the role it can play in strengthening Canada’s critical minerals strategy,” Sio Silica president Carla Devlin said in the release.

“We are grateful for the support and engagement of the government of Canada in helping showcase Canadian opportunities on the world stage.”

Independent MLA Bob Lagasse, a former Tory who represents area residents concerned about the environmental impact of the proposed project, including its effect on the aquifer, said he’s unhappy with the prime minister.

“I think it’s a reckless statement without knowing if the project’s even going through,” said Lagasse, who represents Dawson Trail. “This is our drinking water over here.”

The sand mine proposal is working its way through the environmental approvals process and requires close scrutiny, said Lagasse, who quit the Progressive Conservative party in March, citing frustration with leadership and ethics in its handling of the first Sio Silica proposal while in government.

Lagasse urged area residents to contact their federal MPs to express their concerns about Sio Silica’s latest plan.

“Get some pressure on Ottawa to make them realize that this isn’t something that you can make a decision in Ottawa about without knowing what’s going on on the ground in Manitoba,” he said.

Jack Winram, Sio Silica’s chief development officer, has said the company is following proper procedures in seeking environmental approval for a new scaled-down proposal.

“I think it’s a reckless statement without knowing if the project’s even going through.”

Manitoba’s PCs welcomed the prime minister’s announcement Wednesday.

“Manitoba needs major private-sector investment and job creation, and it’s encouraging to see international partners looking at opportunities here,” economic development critic Konrad Narth said in an email.

“Like any project, Sio Silica must go through the proper environmental review process, and those decisions should be based on science and evidence. More broadly, Manitobans are still waiting for this Kinew government to create the conditions necessary to get major projects moving and restore investor confidence in our province.”

Premier Wab Kinew was not made available for an interview Wednesday. In December, he called a public inquiry into the former Tory government’s failed bid to push through an environmental licence for a Sio Silica sand mine during the party’s final days in office in 2023 after losing the election to the NDP.

Cabinet communications director Amy Tuckett-McGimpsey did not respond when asked whether the premier knew in advance about the prime minister welcoming Sio Silica investments in Manitoba. She issued a statement saying that Sio Silica’s environmental application “will be subject to the same rigorous, science-based review process as any other project proposal in Manitoba.”

“Our focus remains on ensuring a fair process that protects the environment and puts the interests of Manitobans first,” the statement said.

“The former Stefanson government tried to push through the proposal during the caretaker period, and we are currently working on establishing an inquiry and will share details with Manitobans soon.”

The inquiry is expected to begin later this year.

An ethics investigation last year found former premier Heather Stefanson and two of her cabinet ministers, Cliff Cullen and Jeff Wharton, guilty of violating conflict of interest legislation. Each was issued a fine.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca