Propellers stolen from barge at centre of legal battles

The propellers of a barge at the centre of a legal battle between a Manitoba First Nation and a federal Crown corporation have been stolen.

The MV Poplar River, which Poplar River First Nation argued in the Court of King’s Bench it relies on to drive its fishing-based economy, had its twin propellers stolen on March 3 at 12:30 a.m.

RCMP Cpl. Melanie Roussel said officers from its Gimli detachment found the gate at the Hnausa Harbour, in the Rural Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton, was “rammed open” when they arrived to check on a commercial alarm going off. The overhead door to the warehouse was also open, she said.

Roussel said officers found two propellers, worth about $60,000 in total, had been taken from a boat stored there.

“These propellers are of no value without the proper boat, as they are very specific and would not fit on another vessel,” she said.

Roussel said RCMP continue to investigate, but have asked Manitoba Crime Stoppers for assistance “as there was no evidence left behind and the dollar value of the items taken is significant.”

A spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada declined comment, saying the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp., would speak on the matter.

In a brief statement, Stan Lazar, the corporation’s president and chief executive officer, said RCMP are investigating the break-in.

A spokesperson for Poplar River First Nation said the chief was unavailable for comment.

Dave MacKay, who manages the Negginan Fishing Station at Poplar River, said he was told Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. “had a spare pair of props and have since installed them, so there will be no interruption of service for the boat.

“If anything, the ice may be pushing things back.”

He said the other variable is the question of the Crown corporation’s transfer of ownership, which has recently been before the courts.

The federal government has been wanting to divest itself of Freshwater Fish since Manitoba and other provinces opted out of the corporation, which has had a monopoly on fish marketing and sales for decades. A federally appointed advisory council recommended a few years ago that an Indigenous economic development corporation or regional fishing groups and processors take over the corporation.

In December, Poplar River filed court action seeking an injunction to temporarily suspend Freshwater Fish from disbanding until the community was fully consulted and had its treaty and Indigenous rights taken into account. It also asked for a court order to prevent the sale or disposal of the barge without Poplar River’s permission.

The First Nation says without the barge, commercial fishers can’t transport and sell their catch.

In a decision earlier this month, Court of King’s Bench Justice Sarah Inness ruled the court didn’t have the jurisdiction to hear the First Nation’s motion for an injunction.

“Poplar was unsuccessful in convincing a King’s Bench judge that our injunction should be heard in King’s Bench as opposed to federal court,” MacKay said.

“Very disappointing. Other legal options are being considered.”

Anyone with information about the stolen propellers is asked to call Gimli RCMP at 204-642-5106, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca