A stamp of approval has been given to Manitoba Hydro's Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project (the "MMTP") by the Clean Environment Commission (the "CEC") say a representative of the Southeast Stakeholder's Coalition. 

Kevin Toyne is a lawyer representing the Southeast Stakeholder's Coalition (the "Coalition") and says they're disappointed in the decision to approve a preferred route which is so deeply flawed. Toyne notes Manitoba Hydro systematically discounted the concerns of landowners and First Nations groups which resulted in a terrible routing decision, a decision which would see many landowners unnecessarily affected.

"[Manitoba Hydro] used a routing methodology that they imported from the U.S. and, it's not reflected in the Clean Environment Commission's report, but one of the people who was actually involved in developing that methodology admitted during the hearing that the primary output of the methodology is garbage. When you use something that generates primarily garbage, you shouldn't be surprised when what you get is garbage."

Toyne says, while the CEC listened carefully to each presenter and took lots of notes, it doesn't appear they appropriately took those concerns into account in their report. However, he notes, the CEC does not have the final say and the recommendations from the CEC will now go to Brian Pallister and his Conservative government.

"The ultimate decision about whether or not the MMTP line is built rests with the Minister of Sustainable Development. So, we've written to her asking her to not just rubber stamp this project which was designed while the NDP was in power, but to actually ensure that landowner concerns are appropriately and adequately taken into account. If she approves it, that's not the end of it. Anyone who doesn't like her decision can appeal it to the Provincial Cabinet. We've already told the provincial government that that's what we'll be doing."

He adds the Coalition has also asked the Minister of Crown Services to confirm Brian Pallister's government won't allow Manitoba Hydro to easily expropriate the property of local landowners, noting they have yet to hear back.

Toyne explains the Coalition had asked the CEC to send Manitoba Hydro back to the drawing board in regards to listening to landowners and coming up with a better route. He says currently the proposed line travels just south of Highway 15 along a hydro Right of Way corridor and when it gets to Anola it starts to head south. Toyne notes a better alternative would be to keep going until it reaches Vivian and then head south, a route which would avoid a lot of homeowners, farmers, and gravel operations.

He says, by giving their stamp of approval, the CEC did not take those concerns into consideration for this project.

"The Clean Environment Commission is a commission that just can't say no to hydro. So, that's why we're going to be asking the provincial government to say no. Hydro does not take no for an answer. They're planning to forge ahead with this over considerable landowner opposition. They've been spending inordinate amounts of money they receive to try and gain the consent of landowners by paying them large sums of money for a project that hydro doesn't even have permission to build."

Toyne says many Coalition members feel the Selinger government and NDP gave Manitoba Hydro free reign to do whatever they wanted and hoped that mentality would stop under the Pallister government.

"We're certainly hopeful that the Pallister government would follow through on their promises to reign hydro in and stand up to Manitoba Hydro. Manitoba Hydro is not the government of Manitoba. Brian Pallister and his Conservative colleagues are and they have the ability to say no and that's what we're asking them to do. Enough is enough."

Furthermore, Toyne adds the members of the Coalition have been watching the unfortunate things which have happened as a result of the Bipole III project.

"They've certainly done their best to try and learn from that and to try and ensure their voices get heard both in the executive offices at Manitoba Hydro and in the provincial government. So, a lot of people voted, at least outside of Winnipeg, a lot of people voted for the Conservatives because they promised that they would be different when it came to issues involving Manitoba Hydro. THere's a lot of people counting on the Pallister government to be just that, different."

The hearings were held between May 8 and June 6. According to the CEC report, the hearings involved evidence and questions from 29 representatives speaking on behalf of the proponent, 35 representatives speaking on behalf of the participants, and 11 presenters speaking as private individuals.The panel also received 16 written submissions.

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