News Release

August 18, 2003

MANITOBA FLOOD PROTECTION – A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Manitoba Premier, Gary Doer, together with Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, and Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today announced at the Forks, that the Governments of Canada and Manitoba will each contribute $40 million towards Manitoba flood protection. Today’s $80 million announcement builds on the $160 million joint investment announced by the Right Honorable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada, and Premier Doer on April 3, 2003. This represents the first investment made under the “national priority project” component of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

“Our two levels of government have placed top priority on flood protection for our citizens, as we continue to act on the recommendations given to us by the International Joint Commission,” said Premier Doer. “In a very short time, we have announced a commitment to the full floodway expansion project and have put forward $240 million, or over one-third of the total project costs. Today’s commitment takes us to a 1 in 280 year level of flood protection, and underlines the national and international importance of the Red River and the communities that reside along its banks.”

“I am very pleased to confirm the Government of Canada’s commitment towards this infrastructure project to protect the citizens of Winnipeg and the Red River Valley from the danger of flooding,” said Minister Rock. “Flood protection in Manitoba is a national priority that has a major impact on Canada’s economy, environment and quality of life. This is why the Government of Canada is making its very first contribution through the new “national priority project” component of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund to this flood protection program. And we’re doing this without reducing Manitoba’s access to the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.”

The $2-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), announced by Minister Rock on July 22, 2003, provides $200 million for national priority projects – projects of such importance that it is appropriate for the Government of Canada to be a funding partner. As funding for flood protection will be made available under the “national priority project” component of the CSIF, Manitoba remains eligible for its full share of funding under the overall Fund.

“I am proud that the Government of Canada has recognized the importance of the Red River Floodway for the safety of the people of Winnipeg and the surrounding areas,” said Minister Pagtakhan. “Since 1997, the Government of Canada has invested $185 million to help reduce the prospects of devastating floods in the Red River Valley.”

The flood of 1997 was considered to be a 1 in 90 year flood event and came close to over-topping the current flood control structure for the City of Winnipeg. In April 2003, the federal and provincial governments committed $160 million to the Floodway expansion project, representing an increase in flood protection for the City of Winnipeg up to a 1 in 200 year flood event. The additional funding announced today takes the project to a 1 in 280 year level of flood protection during the construction phase, and its puts it well on the way to the final goal of protection against a 1 in 700 year flood when the project is completed. In particular, the funding will allow for the completion of the West Dike, bridge replacement, and significantly greater channel excavation.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. Its Budget 2003 re-affirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, thus bringing the Government of Canada’s contribution to infrastructure to $12 billion since 1993.

Today’s announcement brings the Government of Canada’s investment in Manitoba’s infrastructure since 1994 to nearly $450 million.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget and is built into the existing fiscal framework.

Contacts:

Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
(613) 995-9001

Peter Dalla-Vicenza
Press SecretaryOffice of the Premier of Manitoba
(204) 945-1494

Infrastructure Canada
(613) 948-1148

Jackie Friesen
Cabinet Communications
Office of the Premier of Manitoba
(204) 945-1494

BACKGROUNDER

THE MANITOBA RED RIVER FLOODWAY PROJECT

The Red River Floodway

The Manitoba Red River Floodway diverts a portion of the Red River floodwaters around Winnipeg. Spring runoff flood events are controlled by increasing the volume of diverted waters. The Floodway now provides protection from floods with a 1 in 90 years probability of recurrence and has been employed 21 times since 1969, with seven of those floods being serious events. Although the 1997 flood had a probability of recurrence of 1 in 100 years, over 103,000 people on both sides of the border were forced to evacuate their homes.

The overall Manitoba Red River Floodway Expansion project consists of enhancements to various components of the existing flood control works and Floodway diversion system. For example:

• excavation of 35 million m³ of soil for Floodway channel widening and deepening and modifications to 13 railway and highway bridges, five transmission lines, other crossings,and seven drainage structures;
• upgrades of the inlet control structure, including a fire protection system and installation of additional riprap and erosion protection to the embankments;
• increases of crest elevation of the west dike and raising a portion of the Floodway channel adjacent to the inlet control structure;
• widening of the outlet structure and the discharge channel to the Red River. This would include addressing river bank stability and erosion in the Red River north of the outlet;
• changes to major components of the City of Winnipeg Flood Protection Works including primary and secondary dike upgrades, flood pump station reliability upgrades, land drainage, sewer outfall gate structures and land drainage pump station replacement; and
• renewed discussions on the dredging north of the Floodway.

Today’s investment builds on previous contributions made by both the Governments of Canada and Manitoba first for the construction of the initial floodway in 1968 and for improvements throughout the Red River Valley in the aftermath of the 1997 flood.

A National Priority Project

Several key projects of strategic national importance, such as the expansion of the Manitoba Red River Floodway announced today, will be identified as priorities for funding under the new parameters of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) announced on July 22, 2003. A maximum of ten per cent, or $200 million, of Budget 2003 CSIF funding will be set aside for these national projects – projects of such importance that it is appropriate for the Government of Canada to be a funding partner. They include trans-provincial, trans-territorial projects or more localized but critical projects where federal funding is appropriate. Funding for projects selected as “national priority projects” will not infringe on the province’s access to the overall Fund.

A first joint commitment

On April 3, 2003, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer announced a joint commitment of $160 million towards the expansion of the Red River Floodway. They had committed to support the completion of the expanded floodway over the years to come. When fully completed, the entire expanded floodway will offer protection from a flood with a 1 in 700 years probability of occurrence.

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