Stop Enbridge

A Local Manitoba Government Seems Set to Ignore Concerns Over a Planned Sewage Lagoon

Dear Editor,

It looks like my local government, the RM of Shell River, is pressing ahead with secret plans for a sewage lagoon with no intention of looking at alternatives.

It's now been a month since a Manitoba company, Blue Diamond Technologies, briefed a meeting of the RM Council. Blue Diamond has invented a system to treat and purify both hog and human waste, using a patented chemical process. Company officials are confident their technology is cleaner, greener, less stinky and even cheaper (possibly much cheaper) than an old-style lagoon!

(See "Company offers new way to deal with human waste" in the May 29th edition of "The Review," p. 9. Please read!)  

Just today, one of those officials told me,  they are still waiting to hear back from the RM, in terms of doing a follow-up or taking a closer look!

My elected representatives also seem just as determined as ever to keep information about the new lagoon from the public. They have now officially refused my request, under the Freedom of Information Act,  for results of soil-tests done on a potential lagoon site some time ago. Why? Because, "This information has not yet been discussed in open session and therefore cannot be disclosed...."

The soil tests were done in March. And I know there has been at least one "in camera" (secret) meeting on this since. (An informed source told me the drill truck struck water on the first try. I'm no engineer, but that can't be good can it?) If the soil there is not suitable, will the RM seek another site, or will it actually take the heroic step of installing a million-dollar liner, to prevent leakage?

As a result of their refusal, I will now file an official complaint with the Manitoba Ombudsman, as provided for under the Act, to get some answers.

A recent editorial in "The Review," points out, Manitoba is introducing legislation to address secrecy and lack of accountability on the part of local governments across the province and suggests this may be timely, given recent events here. (If you haven't read it, please do! It's in the May 22nd issue.)

It is regrettable that legislation is needed to make sure democratically-elected local governments do what they should be doing, as a matter of course. It just seems so basic. "Do public business in public!"

Sadly, it's not just the lagoon, it's the way council has handled the issue, that worries me.

Reeve Albert Nabe can't vote or discuss it at meetings because he owns the quarter where the tests were done, so has a conflict-of-interest. Councillor Jack Lenderbeck can't either, because he rents land from the Reeve.

That leaves a rather important decision on a major capital project to the remaining four councillors.

I'm also a bit puzzled at the seeming lack of public interest here.

There are plenty of folks in these parts who love fishing, boating and owning a waterfront property. There are others working actively to promote the Roblin area as a tourist destination. Are you OK with the prospect of another old-style lagoon? Experts say these facilities often leak, contaminating groundwater. (One of those experts, Prof. Bill Paton of Brandon University even claims, "I have not found any Manitoba lagoons that meet effluent license requirements." Quite a statement!)

According to the Lake of the Prairies Conservation District, phosphorous buildup in our waterways has been causing fish-kills and compromising drinking water quality for years. Do we really want to make these problems worse, or find better ways of dealing with them?

Boggy Crk. possible future "drain" for sewage effluent. PLT photo

If the lagoon goes ahead, a pipeline would apparently drain the effluent from there into beautiful Boggy Creek (above), where I fished, myself, when I was a kid, then, into Lake of the Prairies. 

Isn't that where a lot of you fish, or own cottages? Do you want that effluent to be as clean as it can be, or just "good enough," as seems to be the present mentality?

I'd love to hear how you "Bug-Chuckers," or anyone else for that matter, feel about this!

If you decide you'd also like some answers from the RM, here is some contact information which may help.

Reeve Albert Nabe tel. 937- 2610
Dep. Reeve Joe Senderewich 937-3257
Councillor Jack Lenderbeck 937- 2812
      "           Louise Smigelski 937-2346
      "           Craig Mohr 937- 2672
      "           Doug Cranwell 937- 4940
RM of Shell River 937- 4430
email - shellrvr@mymts.net
RM website:http://www.rm.shellriver.mb.ca/

While you're at it, ask them why the minutes from their April 13th PUBLIC meeting, have not been posted on their website yet!

Larry Powell, concerned citizen, resident and ratepayer,
RM of Shell River.

Is a Top Tory an Election Crook?

World's Environmental Outlook Grim, UN Warns

By Kazi Stastna, CBC News - Jun 6, 2012

A "crop-duster" sprays harmful chemicals on a field in western Manitoba, CA. (PLT photo.)

Little progress made on goals set by nations. Details here.

Emphasis on Oil Sands Called a ‘Historic Mistake for Canada’

Richard Blackwell - The Globe and Mail

A high-profile adviser on renewable energy to the European Union says Canada is making a huge mistake in placing so much emphasis on the oil sands as the key component of the country’s energy policy. Full story here.

Tax Fairly, Spend Wisely

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Winnipeg.

According to CBC news, 45% of Canadians wait until the last week before the deadline to file their tax returns. The mad pencil sharpening, digging through receipts and online filing is unlikely to generate a great deal of goodwill towards the tax collector. Perhaps this is why the Winnipeg Free Press chose April 30th to run two anti-tax View from the West Editorials…details here.

Stephen Harper and the NDP

Act Up in Saskatchewan

John W. Warnock

It is a year this week since the last federal election. Active members and supporters of the New Democratic Party (NDP) celebrate this event, for their party passed the Liberals to finally become Her Majesty's Official Opposition in the House of Commons. However, others, like myself, remember that day for the fact that Stephen Harper and his Canadian Alliance/Reform Party colleagues were able to squeeze out a majority of the seats in the House of Commons. For us, it was a day of mourning. Full story here.