The Manitoba government has announced that construction of a planned silica sand mine will not proceed, with the premier saying environmental concerns outweigh “uncertain” economic benefits.
The province announced in a news release that it has decided not to issue an environmental license for Alberta-based Sio Silica’s proposed Vivian sand mining project in the Springfield municipality.
“After extensive due diligence, the government has determined that the risks of this proposal outweigh the potential benefits,” Prime Minister Wab Kinew said in a news release.
Tracy Schmidt, the province’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said the decision was based on information provided by experts, including a report by the Clean Environment Commission, and consultation with affected communities and First Nations. He said that he was injured.
The CEC report identified some serious environmental concerns about a project that would extract sand from an aquifer that provides drinking water for 100,000 Manitobans.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that Manitobans’ drinking water is not at risk,” Schmidt said in a news release. “This proposal did not adequately consider long-term impacts, including the potential for aquifer collapse. We have therefore taken the decision not to issue a license for the Vivian Sand Mining Project. did.”
The minister said the CEC also heard opposition to the project from hundreds of Manitobans, local leaders, scientists and environmental advocacy groups.
Project beset by controversy and backlash
The move is the latest in a saga of opposition and controversy surrounding the proposed project.
In September, Regional Councilors Mark Miller and Andy Kuczynski said they received a letter from an attorney representing Sio Silica, stating that the two councilors were attempting to “delay and sabotage” the project. The company stated that it is considering “lawsuit for misconduct in public office.” .
“I think it’s nothing more than bullying and intimidation of us,” Miller told CTV News at the time.
Dozens of residents gathered to protest the project in front of Springfield City Hall, and thousands participated by phone in a private referendum in RM. They were asked whether they supported the silica sand extraction project.
More than 96 percent of those who called voted against the referendum, according to the group organizing the referendum, which has fiercely opposed the plan.
Meanwhile, two former Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers, Kevin Kline and Rochelle Squires, said their government tried to move forward with the project days before the new NDP government was officially sworn in.
In the aftermath of the provincial election, Klein said he received a call on Oct. 12 from colleague Geoff Wharton, then Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade.
Mr. Klein, who was then Minister of Environment and Climate, said Mr. Wharton asked him to sign a directive that would allow Sio Silica to be approved for a license.
Squires said Wharton also contacted her and asked the same question.
“Clearly that was not a proper request and approval was not granted,” Squires told CTV News.
Wharton denied the accusations and said he was only gathering information about mining projects to pass on to the next government.
In the aftermath, the ruling NDP asked the provincial ethics commissioner to investigate the PCs over the move.
– With files from CTV’s Danton Unger