Archived News Releases

Province Announces Major Investment in All-season Road to Connect East Side Communities

– – –
$72.5 Million in Budget 2010 Brings Manitoba's Total Investment to $93 Million: Selinger

Manitoba is one step closer to replacing winter roads with permanent all-season connections, thanks to a $72.5-million investment announced today by Premier Greg Selinger and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson, minister responsible for the East Side Road Authority (ESRA). 

 

“Climate change is contributing to a shorter winter road season on average, with southern sections of our winter road network particularly vulnerable as we witnessed this year,” said Selinger.  “Today, we are moving forward on a permanent solution with this significant investment in a project that will create employment, training and economic development opportunities for local people while bringing down the cost of living and providing better access to essential services.”

 

The new investment will go toward the ongoing work of the Manitoba Floodway and East Side Road Authority (MFESRA), whose mandate was expanded in 2009 from managing the expansion of the Red River Floodway to include the construction and maintenance of an all-season road on the east side of Lake Winnipeg as part of the East Side Transportation Initiative.

 

The East Side Transportation Initiative includes construction of a 160-kilometre, all-season road from PR 304 near Manigotagan to Bloodvein First Nation and through to Berens River First Nation.  The initiative also includes a study to examine potential transportation infrastructure improvements for the remainder of the region, expected to be complete by the end of 2010.

 

“In a little over one year, a significant amount of work has been undertaken on the all-season road project,” said Ernie Gilroy, CEO of the MFESRA.  “This includes filing an environmental impact assessment for the PR 304 to Berens River all-season road project, proceeding with the large area transportation network study and signing community benefits agreements with east-side communities. Today’s announcement will help to ensure that, pending environmental approval, we are in a position to begin construction later this year.”  

 

In addition to securing the necessary environmental approvals, much of the ESRA’s work has focused on establishing community benefits agreements (CBAs) with east side communities to ensure that jobs, training, and economic benefits are maximized for local residents.  To date, ESRA has signed CBAs with Berens River, Bloodvein, Red Sucker Lake, St. Theresa Point and Wasagamack First Nations.  Discussions are ongoing with other communities, said Gilroy.

 

“The people of the east side are already benefiting from what will be one of the largest infrastructure projects in Manitoba’s history,” said Robinson.  “An all-weather road represents one of our best single opportunities to improve life on the east side by reducing transportation costs for food, goods and people, improving access to vital services such as health care, and fostering greater economic development and tourism opportunities for local people.”

 

Building permanent road connections to east-side communities will also fulfil a number of key recommendations of the 2004 report Promises to Keep produced as part of the Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin east side planning initiative, said Robinson.  The report contains a number of community recommendations that were put forward to the government as a result of east side community meetings held in 2004.  The recommendations range from the protection of traditional lands to improved transportation, sustainable economic development, and increased employment and training opportunities.

 

Provincial environmental approvals are expected to be complete by the end of 2010.  Discussions with the Government of Canada are also underway regarding federal environmental licensing and the prospect of federal funding for the project, said Robinson. 

 

-30-