Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Manitoba Premier Speaks At Rally For Road To Shoal Lake 40 First Nation

IANS, 13 Sep, 2015 01:02 PM
  • Manitoba Premier Speaks At Rally For Road To Shoal Lake 40 First Nation
WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says residents of the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation deserve to see an all-weather road to their community move forward.
 
Selinger addressed a rally in Winnipeg on Saturday calling for the road to the community, which was cut off from the mainland a century ago during construction of an aqueduct to send clean water to Winnipeg.
 
Without a permanent road, residents rely on an aging barge in the summer and a treacherous ice road in the winter.
 
The First Nation is located on the Manitoba-Ontario boundary, and Selinger says in a news release that he recently spoke with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne about the issue.
 
He says Wynn also expressed Manitoba's concern with the people from Shoal Lake 40.
 
Both Manitoba and Winnipeg have said they will pay for one-third each of the road's construction if Ottawa kicks in the rest of the estimated $30-million cost.
 
"The provincial government remains steadfast in its commitment to share in building this road," Selinger said in the release.
 
Selinger noted that many residents have lost their lives crossing the ice.
 
The Shoal Lake community has been under a boil-water advisory for 17 years due to a dam which funnels tainted water away from the Winnipeg aqueduct and towards the reserve.
 
The province says the lack of road access has long been identified as a barrier to economic opportunity for the community, and causing high costs which have prevented the construction of key community infrastructure, including a water treatment plant.
 
The federal Liberal party and the NDP have promised to fund the road if elected in October.
 
A 90-day crowdfunding campaign over the summer to pay for the federal government's share road fell short, raising only $101,000 of the desired $10 million.

MORE National ARTICLES

'It's Very Helpful:' Some Bail Conditions Eased For Omar Khadr At Edmonton Hearing

Khadr's curfew is being relaxed to allow him to attend night classes and early-morning prayers. Court heard Khadr is studying to become an emergency medical technician.

'It's Very Helpful:' Some Bail Conditions Eased For Omar Khadr At Edmonton Hearing

B.C. Liquor Store Fundraiser Pumps $102,000 Into Wildfire Relief

B.C. Liquor Store Fundraiser Pumps $102,000 Into Wildfire Relief
Customers and employees of B.C. liquor stores have raised $102,000 to support victims of this summer's wildfires in the province.

B.C. Liquor Store Fundraiser Pumps $102,000 Into Wildfire Relief

Ontario Looks At Importing More Electricity From Quebec At Joint Cabinet Meeting

Ontario Looks At Importing More Electricity From Quebec At Joint Cabinet Meeting
QUEBEC — Ontario will look at the financial implications of buying more electricity from Quebec under an agreement to be signed Friday at a joint cabinet meeting in Quebec City.

Ontario Looks At Importing More Electricity From Quebec At Joint Cabinet Meeting

Premier Kathleen Wynne To Announce Funding For Syrian Refugees On Saturday

QUEBEC — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne urged Ottawa on Friday to speed up its process to welcome more refugees to Canada.

Premier Kathleen Wynne To Announce Funding For Syrian Refugees On Saturday

Drone Captures Photos Of New Endangered Baby Orca Swimming Alongside Mother

Drone Captures Photos Of New Endangered Baby Orca Swimming Alongside Mother
The new calf is the fifth baby since December to be born to the endangered population of killer whales that spend time in Washington state waters.

Drone Captures Photos Of New Endangered Baby Orca Swimming Alongside Mother

Over 65 Killed As Crane Falls On Mecca's Grand Mosque

Over 65 Killed As Crane Falls On Mecca's Grand Mosque
Over 65 people were killed after a crane collapsed on to the Grand Mosque in the Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah, which is preparing for the Annual Haj.

Over 65 Killed As Crane Falls On Mecca's Grand Mosque