Tears over Lost Highway

[CountryAtHeart]

This is absolutely atrocious! Shame on Manitoba for doing this to one of their Natives Reserves!

Residents of a First Nation under one of Canada's longest boil-water advisories wept Thursday after the federal government refused to commit to help fund the construction of a road connecting the community with the outside world.

Both Manitoba and the city of Winnipeg announced a commitment Thursday to fund part of the cost of a permanent, all-weather road for Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, which straddles the Ontario-Manitoba boundary.

But Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford refused to say whether Ottawa would put up its share of the cost during a ceremony on the reserve and left community members openly sobbing with disappointment.

Instead, he reiterated the federal government's $1-million pledge to a design study for the project.

"We've made a clear commitment today," Rickford, the MP for the area said, as children holding signs asking for a federal commitment to build the road walked behind him. "I have no further comment."

When asked if he had anything to say to the children about the road, he said: "Hi guys."

The reserve was cut off from the mainland a century ago when an aqueduct was built to supply Winnipeg with fresh water.

While clean water flows down the aqueduct, murky water is diverted to the First Nation. It has been under a boil-water advisory for 17 years and has no all-weather road connecting it to the mainland.

Rickford left the announcement while Stewart Redsky wept in frustration as he spoke to people gathered in the community.

"For 100 years, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation has had to pay so Winnipeg could get fresh water," Redsky said. "Our people need an answer today. Our people deserve an answer today."

The community's problems got worse earlier this year when its aging ferry didn't pass federal inspection. The reserve — with no way for people to get groceries, water or immediate medical attention — declared a state of emergency.

The ferry has since been patched up but the community remains vulnerable.

Every year, people trying to get home fall through the ice. Paramedics and home-care workers won't come into the community for safety reasons. An all-weather road, named Freedom Road by residents, would cost an estimated $30 million split between three levels of government.

Redsky said many people in Shoal Lake 40, including his teenage grandson, have lost hope in Canada.

"It breaks my heart," he said.

Chief Erwin Redsky said a design study isn't enough. The reserve has several design studies dating back a decade for water treatment plants that have never been built.

At the same time, the federal government has said it will spend $100 million to twin the nearby Trans-Canada Highway across the provincial boundary.

"Canada is not going to get four lanes thorough our territory if we're not going to get our road. I made that clear to the minister today," he said.

Without a road, there is no hope for a water treatment plant or economic development, he said.

"People are leaving," he said. "People can't live under these kinds of conditions."

Tap water on the reserve is drawn directly from the polluted lake and treated with chlorine.

But Kavin Redsky, who has been treating the water for 12 years, said there is no filtration system so sediment and weeds often come out the taps.

"We're not even supposed to brush our teeth with the water," he said. "We don't get a treatment system unless we get the road."

Manitoba Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell said the province is committed to seeing the road built and will wait for Ottawa to do the same.

"Until there is a definitive no, I always assume the answer is going to be yes."

[jamapple]

You should re-read, then comment. Manitoba, and city of Winnipeg are committed, just not the feds. You're spewing onto the wrong parties.

[Puddlejumper40]

I don't know, this doesn't sound too good. Who's choice was this? Manitoba or the Federal Government?


"The reserve was cut off from the mainland a century ago when an aqueduct was built to supply Winnipeg with fresh water.

While clean water flows down the aqueduct, murky water is diverted to the First Nation. It has been under a boil-water advisory for 17 years and has no all-weather road connecting it to the mainland.

Rickford left the announcement while Stewart Redsky wept in frustration as he spoke to people gathered in the community.

"For 100 years, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation has had to pay so Winnipeg could get fresh water," Redsky said. "Our people need an answer today. Our people deserve an answer today."

[CountryAtHeart]

The reserve was cut off from the mainland a century ago when an aqueduct was built to supply Winnipeg with fresh water.

When this aqueduct was built for Winnipeg who were the geniuses who decided that they could take away the roadway and also make no provisions for the Reserves water supply? I don't care if the Province and the feds are working together or not. That this has been going on for so long is a travesty.

[Donald G]

To Crying-Angel ...

There has to be a great deal more to this than is depicted in this thread.

To traverse an aqueduct with a road or road with an aqueduct is no problem. California is full of them.

It would be interesting to know what the real story is and how the situation came about.

Sob stories are a dime a dozen these days. Hardly any of them are fount to be completely truthful when the whole story is made known.

[erinmore3775]

Here may be some clues to the rest of the story.

http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2015/02/17/shoal-lake-40-support-for-highway-twinning-hinges-on-freedom-road-construction-guarantees

“Efforts to get the long-awaited twinning project for the Trans Canada Highway between Kenora and the Manitoba border off the ground has become slightly more complicated. Shoal Lake 40 First Nation has made it clear to the Ontario government that it will not support the twinning project until there are guarantees in place that the money required for construction of the First Nation’s Freedom Road project will be available when it is ready to begin building it…
“…But the First Nation’s move should come as no surprise to either the Ontario or federal government. In a letter sent from Ontario Transport Minister Glenn Murray to his federal counterpart Lisa Raitt in August of 2013, Murray warned that something needed to be done about Shoal Lake 40’s road access problems if they wanted the twinning project to go ahead.
“It is hard to imagine how we can expect this community’s support when they remain isolated without a road and cut off from all opportunity. This letter, then, is to urge you to do whatever you can to enlist Canada’s full participation in the design and construction of an all-weather access road to Shoal Lake 40 First Nation,” reads Murray’s letter.”

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/shoal-lake-reserve-residents-weep-as-ottawa-balks-at-funding-road-construction-1.3128402

“Residents of a First Nation under one of Canada's longest boil-water advisories wept Thursday after the federal government refused to commit to help fund the construction of a road connecting the community with the outside world.
“Both Manitoba and the city of Winnipeg announced a commitment Thursday to fund part of the cost of a permanent, all-weather road for Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, which straddles the Ontario-Manitoba boundary.
“But Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford refused to say whether Ottawa would put up its share of the cost during a ceremony on the reserve and left community members openly sobbing with disappointment.”
The only thing that Rickford would commit to is $1 M for another study to resolve the problem. After 100 years of isolation and 17 years of boil water orders the Shoal Lake Band Council refused to accept that decision. I would respectfully suggest that the unwillingness of the federal government to participate in the funding for the bridge and “Freedom Road” has more to do with the mandatory department spending cuts and the lapsed spending returns that anything else. After all the government has held back about $1B budgeted for Aboriginal Services.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/aborigi ... -1.3100937
The municipal government of Winnipeg, the Manitoba government and the Ontario governments are all committed to the twining of the Trans Canada Highway and the building of the “Freedom Road.” It is the current federal government that is blocking the projects and it appears that it is blocking the projects to meet its self-prescribed deficit reducing measures. Oh the pains this current federal government will go to “look good” on Election Day in the fall. It certainly reminds me of the fairy tale about the “Emperor’s New Clothes!”

[Gilchy]

With a population of 268 (as per wiki), that's only $111,000 per person to build the road, a bargain! I wonder if looking at water treatment would be more effective, as a road still wouldn't solve the water issue.

[Donald G]

To Gilchy ...

I think that the million is only for the study. Not the bridges, road or water plant themselves.

I wonder what (tax money) Canada gets in return from possible industry or development along the road ??

How much does the reserve want for the road or canal to cross their "claimed" land.

[erinmore3775]

Brief history of the situation:

In the early 1900’s, as the City of Winnipeg grew the Shoal Lake Band’s economic base was tourism and fishing. Their shore-based community was a popular tourist/fishing area. However, as the City of Winnipeg grew its systems of artesian wells and river water was not adequate for the increased population. Typhoid outbreaks were regular occurrences and the water provided was foul tasting and stained everything a ruddy brown. In 1912, a plan was devised to bring fresh water to Winnipeg by a 137 km canal from Shoal Lake. There were three problems with the plan. The first was the cost and the second was the fact that the canal would have to cross Shoal Band land and the third was the fact that the canal mouth went basically through the Shoal lakeside village.

In 1914 the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg found the money. The City of Winnipeg with the approval of the Department of Indian Affairs expropriated the required land, and the Department moved the small band to the isthmus where they now live. In return for the land and moving, the band was promised economic development support. However, lake level fluctuations required that a canal be cut across the isthmus to ensure adequate water flow for the Winnipeg canal. The Shoal band was now located on an island. The roads and other “necessities” that would allow them to maintain their “tourist’ based economy were never completed.

By the late 1980’s conditions for the Shoal Band were deplorable. The City of Winnipeg, The Province of Manitoba, and the Federal Government were forced to recognize their responsibilities and developed a tripartite (fiscal) agreement with the Shoal Band. The agreement promised an annual income of the interest from a $6 million trust fund and efforts on the part of both Winnipeg and Manitoba to provide alternate jobs and economic opportunities. Part of the agreement was that the Department of Indian affairs would build sewer and fresh water facilities. I believe the City and the Province established the trust fund. However, while the Department built some sewage facilities, the water facilities were never built. Neither were the roads, which were promised in 1914.

Protracted negotiations to resolve the issues continued until 2012. At that time with all patience was lost the Shoal Lake Band Council launched a suit to stop the expansion of Winnipeg’s water system. The situation went public both nationally and internationally. The situation jumped onto the world stage when International Joint Commission that governs water levels for the lakes and rivers in the area became involved. So did The Council of Canadians and the ultimate red flag, David Suzuki.

Originally the Federal government had set about $7M aside in the tripartite agreement for construction of the water works. The water treatment facilities were never built but that commitment remained on the books.

Comment:

The decision to build the water facilities was re-examined in 2013-14 at the height of the government’s behind the scenes deficit reduction edict requiring all departments to “return” 5% to 15% of their publicly announced budgets. The current costs of the water facility were judged to be too much and to benefit too few people. This is also during the time period when the Department of Aboriginal Affairs was able to return $100M in budgetary lapsed funding in 2013-14 out of a budget of approximately $8B.

While the blame for this situation does not lie solely with this present government, I believe that they have exasperated the situation. Those who have visited this area are well aware that this is not a high volume tourist destination. The vegetation and topography does not lend itself to hotels and casinos. Nor is this area mineral rich. Manitoba and Winnipeg have committed to their share of the costs required to rectify the situation. It is the current federal government that is lagging behind and purely to meet a "hidden" agenda that would allow them to "look good" in the coming election. However, when you balance your books by removing benefits, not fulfilling promises, and pushing fiscal commitments far into the future you are more of a sham than a transparent and open government. The Shoal Band predicament is a classic example of this.

[Donald G]

To erinmore3775 ...

You have given what seems to me to be a probable reasonable overview of the situation, aside from blaming the present government for the present situation.

Given the many native initiated financial abuses that have taken place on reserves across Canada it seems that any decision as to how much more money should be spent by taxpayers to remedy the hundred year old situation should include an accounting of how much money the Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments have poured into the community over the years without any financial return or change in the situation ??

[erinmore3775]

Yes DG I am blaming the current federal government for current problems of the Shoal Lake band area related to the boil water advisory and the twining of the Trans Canada Higway. It would appear that deals were in place to resolve the issues. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ontario, and the band had reached tentative agreements, the missing piece in the agreements was the current federal government. While federal money had previously been set aside to complete the required agreed to projects on Band land, after nearly 20 years those projects still have not been completed. Recently the federal government was only willing to announce $1M for another study. Can you imagine the frustration and betrayal felt by the band council and the governments of Ontario, Manitoba, and Winnipeg.

This decision was not based on good fiscal reasoning, but on the desire to achieve an ideological goal. As a result of this decision the current government's relationship with two provinces and a major city have been further strained. Likewise its already tenuous relationship with Aboriginal Nations has been further tarnished. If they were trying to use this to illustrate a point of strength and responsibility with the electorate, they failed.

[Gone_Fishin]

Looks like these people should put their money together and come up with a solution to their water woes. You know, just like a small settlement of 268 white people would have to do.

[maryjane48]

oh really how did the new floating bridge in kelowna get paid for hmmmmm. what your really saying is if a native kid gets sick or dies because the water , so what ? lol im surprised you and don g arent calling for a cull of cirst nation folks

[Puddlejumper40]

Looks like these people should put their money together and come up with a solution to their water woes. You know, just like a small settlement of 268 white people would have to do.

I would like to have seen what would have happened if the government tried to evict 268 white people from their homes and ultimately relocate them to an island that cuts them off from civilization.

[Donald G]

To erinmore3775 ...

How much taxpayer money has been pumped into this small isolated community over the years with apparently absolutely no return ??

If you say you do not know then I will have to start to question some of the other information and conclusions you have reached that, in the absence of alternate information, I have tentatively accepted as probable.

Drinking lake water AUTOMATICALLY comes with a "boil advisory". What would they have continued to use if the viaduct had not been built ??

How wide is the MAN MADE viaduct that now makes their present location an island ??