August 13, 2020
Province Announces Application-Based Quarry Rehabilitation Program for 2020
The Manitoba government is implementing a Quarry Rehabilitation on Private Land Program to rehabilitate depleted quarries and pits on private land, Agriculture and Resource Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.
“Up to $6.7 million will be available for landowners needing to do rehabilitation work on private lands,” said Pedersen. “Under the program, each landowner will be eligible for up to $250,000.”
In 2018, after discovering financial irregularities, the province paused the program to conduct in-depth reviews. Both the Office of the Auditor General as well as Internal Audit office conducted audits and provided recommendations. These audits helped form the new program.
“Our government takes these recently released findings very seriously and our top priority is to ensure that any program dealing with quarries and pits reflects the integrity and transparency of all further programming,” said Pedersen. “A review of the findings in the audit reports with Manitoba Justice is ongoing.”
The program includes a new application and evaluation process based on transparent criteria and a competitive cost-per-cubic-metre evaluation to ensure that projects are prioritized based on measured outcomes and value for investment. Moving forward, the new Quarry Rehabilitation on Private Land Program will ensure eligible projects focus on private quarries that have been registered and have paid environmental levies on the property.
Industry and landowners have been invited to attend a virtual town hall session this afternoon with the minister of agriculture and resource development to discuss the details of the program and the resources available to assist with the application process.
For more information on the Quarry Rehabilitation on Private Land Program, including how to apply, visit www.gov.mb.ca/iem/mines/quarry_rehab/index.html.
Interested applicants can also call 204-945-1119 or (toll-free) 1-800-223-5215, or email quarryrehab@gov.mb.ca.
Applications are open until Aug. 31.
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