NDP must take action, Rowat says
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/05/2011 (5234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Minnedosa Progressive Conservative MLA Leanne Rowat was stonewalled after asking questions about getting help for a flood-damaged Souris wastewater treatment facility in the Manitoba legislature on Wednesday.
Rowat said since April 15, when the first surge of high water on the Souris River damaged a lift station, town officials have used four pumps to send wastewater overland because the outflow pipes were under two metres of water.
The damage to ruptured pipes must be repaired with a sewer outflow system costing an estimated $250,000 to $300,000, but town officials have received no response to a May 6 call to Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation officials, Rowat said.
"The community wants a phone call back, it’s the least this government can do," Rowat said.
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton said municipalities can apply for disaster financial assistance through a plan to be announced as early as Friday.
"We have been dealing with flooding that is unprecedented in this province, and I certainly appreciate the call that was made," Ashton said during Wednesday’s question period.
"But if you consider our MIT staff has been working 24-7 on maintaining the dikes on the Assiniboine Valley, protecting people in Brandon and working on emerging situations throughout the province, I would think (Rowat) would understand our staff is working on flood protection.
"That may mean a delay in responding to some inquiries."
The delays are costly to Souris residents, as town officials were forced to rent tractor pumps and pay overtime costs to staff who have monitored them day and night," Rowat said.
"People in Souris want to know what they have to do going forward to get the damaged system repaired," Rowat said. "They called MIT and asked what could they do to move the process forward, get it costed and what do they have to do to qualify for assistance. But DFA is saying they aren’t commenting on the program."
Rowat said the government inaction leaves residents wondering whether they can get disaster assistance to pay for the damage, or whether they alone will shoulder the burden.
"They can’t get answers," Rowat said. "What the community deserves is a call back."
» kborkowsky@brandonsun.com
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