Dunnottar rises Level 3 charging station: province

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/06/2023 (1035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A small community on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipeg is getting a government-supported electric vehicle charging station.

On Tuesday, Manitoba Environment Minister Kevin Klein announced the new infrastructure for the Village of Dunnottar. The community of some 1,000 permanent residents is located about 70 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

“Green transportation projects play a key role in protecting our environment and water, which is a top priority for our government,” Klein said in a release.

“Transitioning to electric vehicles will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support a low-carbon economy, and ensure affordability for Manitobans.”

The charger will be installed near a public pier and replaces a “Level 2” charger, which will be moved to another location in the community, according to the province.

The province previously announced it would provide $150,000 to Eco-West Canada to expand the electric vehicle charging network, and to partner with six municipalities to add seven new Level 3 chargers.

Additional projects will be announced in the future, the province said.

“In the past, we have been very fortunate to have worked with the Village of Dunnottar on several sustainability initiatives,” Eco-West Canada executive director Dany Robidoux said in a release.

“This is another example on why this municipality is seen as a leader in Manitoba when it comes to the greening of their community.”

Beekeepers offered compensation

The provincial and federal governments have made $7.5 million available to beekeepers to rebuild their colonies, after suffering devastating losses over a year ago.

According to the province, Manitoba beekeepers lost about 57 per cent of their colonies during the winter of 2021-22; typical winter losses are in the range of 30 per cent.

“The honey bee industry is a critical component of Manitoba’s economy — honey bees pollinate many of Manitoba’s key crops, contributing up to $150 million to the province’s agricultural production,” Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson said Tuesday in a release.

The Manitoba government will contribute $3 million to assist beekeepers under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership and the AgriRecovery program, a federal-provincial disaster relief framework that has Ottawa cover 60 per cent of eligible costs.

Commercial operators with 50 or more colonies who are registered with the province can apply to purchase replacement stock. There are about 115,000 colonies in Manitoba, and the majority belong to commercial beekeepers.

“Manitoba beekeepers have faced consecutive and compounding challenges over the past few years, including drought in 2021, spring snowstorms and a shortage of replacement honey bee stock,” Manitoba Beekeepers Association chairperson Ian Steppler said.

“The support announced by the government today will help Manitoba producers accelerate the recovery from this extraordinary winter loss event.”

Boost to sustainable fisheries budget

The provincial government is topping up the Sustainable Fisheries and Certification Program with another $1.5 million.

According to the province, the additional spending increases the program’s $2.5-million support of sustainable Manitoba fisheries and enhance data collection. Both Lake Winnipegosis and Lake Manitoba are being fished at unsustainable levels, the government said Tuesday in a release.

A voluntary licence and quota buyback program is being offered on both lakes to help reduce annual harvest pressures on walleye and sauger.

To date, Lake Winnipegosis fishers have offered 13 licences and 13 quotas for purchase and Lake Manitoba fishers have offered 71 licences for purchase.

Stock assessments are underway on Lake Winnipeg.

— Staff