FAQ

Questions

1. Why do we need to expand the current floodway?
2. How will this project affect me?
3. How much does the project cost?
4. What are we doing to protect the environment?
5. What are we going to do with all the earth?
6. Is it true that all the workers on the construction site will have to join a union?
7. Who do I contact if I am interested in a Job on the Floodway Project?
8. If you dig the floodway deeper, will you have an impact on local groundwater supplies?
9. Who do I call if I think floodway construction has impacted my supply of well water?
10. How can I get involved?

1 - Why do we need to expand the current floodway?

During the 1997 "flood of the century" the Red River Floodway came within inches of reaching its capacity. Although the floodway saved Manitoba billions in damage that year, the public recognized the need to improve the flood protection level of the floodway.

As large as the 1997 flood was - Manitoba's largest recorded flood was actually 40% larger! The new floodway is being designed to protect Winnipeg from a repeat of that 1826 flood.

The floodway is an important part of Manitoba's economic infrastructure. Since its construction in the 1960s, it has been operated 19 times and saved Manitobans more than $10 billion in flood losses.

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2 - How will this project affect me?

The Red River Floodway Expansion Project will provide better flood protection, protect the environment, create thousands of jobs and improve the quality of life for all Manitobans.  Specifically, the project will increase flood protection for residents of the City of Winnipeg, East St. Paul and West St. Paul. Once completed, the project will protect more than 450,000 Manitobans, over 140,000 homes, over 8,000 businesses, and prevent more than $12 billion in damages to the provincial economy in the event of a 1-in-700 year flood.

In addition, this project will affect you, your friends or family, if you or they:

• live or work close to the Red River or floodway
  
  
• work in the construction or engineering industry
  
  
• own a business that has been or could be disrupted by a major flood
  
  
• are trying to attract investment or establish a business in Manitoba
  
  
• use the floodway for recreation purposes

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3 - How much does the project cost?

Funding for this project is being shared equally by the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba to a total of $665 million.

4- What are we doing to protect the environment?

The Red River Floodway Expansion Project is itself an environmental protection project. Without the expansion, it is estimated that a 1-in-700 year flood would result in basement and overland flooding of two thirds of Winnipeg, which would result in the widespread discharge of pollutants throughout the City. These pollutants would eventually find their way into the Red River and Lake Winnipeg.

In the development of project, the principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development are guiding the project. The Manitoba Floodway Authority will work toward engineering solutions to any environmental concerns. For example, the MFA has established a 5-Point Groundwater Protection Strategy consisting of:

• No deepening of the floodway channel – MFA has dramatically scaled back plans to deepen the floodway channel from initial estimates of up to two metres (six feet) to no deepening.
  
  
• Low Flow Channel Protection - MFA will invest in measures to strengthen, armour and fill in erosion spots to re-establish the grade of the low flow channel and better protect fish. 
  
   
• Environmental Mitigation Fund - An environmental mitigation fund has been established by MFA to mitigate any unanticipated, isolated environmental effects associated with the floodway expansion project including groundwater protection.
  
  
• Ongoing Monitoring – In partnership with Manitoba Water Stewardship and local authorities, MFA will adopt a monitoring and adaptive management approach to identify and respond to any unpredictable adverse effects regarding groundwater.
  
  
• Community Liaison: MFA will establish a Community Liaison Committee to provide local residents with updates on the project as well as provide a venue to raise issues related to the expansion project. In addition, MFA has established a toll-free telephone line for rural residents to report groundwater concerns.
  

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5- What are we going to do with all the earth?

We have not made any final decision about what we will do with more than 30 million cubic meters of earth (spoil) that we plan to excavate from the channel. Our initial plan is to keep it as close to the floodway as possible. The spoil pile will act as a dyke.

At the same time, many members of the public have expressed a desire to access some of the excess earth. As a result, the MFA is considering making the excess earth available to the public. If an organization has an idea that will not increase the project's cost or delay its construction, they should contact us.

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6- Is it true that all the workers on the construction site will have to join a union?

No. Both union and non-union workers and contractors will be eligible to work and bid on work on the project.

The project management agreement will assist in project management of the multi-year flood protection project and help to ensure that there is no delay on the project resulting from a labour disruption. The agreement is designed to provide a level playing field for contractors and workers who are planning to participate in the floodway project. It also helps to ensure cost and labour certainty over the five year life of the project which allows the MFA to better plan for construction. 

Specific provisions of the agreement include:

• No stoppage of work or work slowdown during the course of the project.
  
  
• Both union and non-union workers and contractors will be eligible to work and bid on the project.
  
  
• Non-union workers will not be required to join a union;
  
  
• All contractors – union and non-union - will be allowed to bring their current employees to the project;
  
  
• A rotational hiring provision that provides for 1/3 of new hires to be union hires; 1/3 qualified employment equity hires; and 1/3 qualified workers at large;
  
  
• Union workers will continue to pay union dues while non-union workers will pay an equivalent fee for the services rendered by the union;
  
  
• Wages will be the same for union and non-union workers with benefits equivalent to those contained in the appropriate union benefits plan;
  
  
• Union dues and service fees will be administered by a third party administrator for MFA; and
  
  
• Employee lists to be maintained in strict confidence by MFA.
  
  

The agreement includes provisions to facilitate meaningful employment equity hiring of certain groups that are underrepresented in the Manitoba workforce including Aboriginal people, women, visible minorities and people with disabilities

7 - Who do I contact if I am interested in a Job on the Floodway Project?

Manitobans interested in working on the floodway expansion project can apply at any of the 17 Employment and Training Services (ETS) Centres located throughout the province.

The Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA) has partnered with Manitoba Advanced Education and Training’s  Employment and Training Services (ETS) to create a Job Referral Service (JRS). The JRS is designed to match qualified workers with contractors who are looking for additional employees to work on the project. The ETS centres manage the JRS for the floodway project. It is expected that over 1,000 jobs will be created during the five-year project. Employment opportunities will vary in length depending on the work required. 

For more information, please contact ETS at 945-0575 (in Winnipeg); toll free at 1-866-332-5077; or visit the Floodway Job Referral Service at www.gov.mb.ca/jobreferral.

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8 - If you dig the floodway deeper, will you have an impact on local groundwater supplies?

To ensure the protection of groundwater supplies, the MFA has scaled back plans to deepen the Floodway Channel from an initial estimate of up to two metres (six feet) to no deepening. Instead, the MFA will be widening the channel.

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9 - Who do I call if I think floodway construction has impacted my supply of well water?

The MFA does not anticipate any permanent impact on well water over the course of the project. As a precautionary measure, however, the MFA has established a Groundwater Action Response Plan, which includes a 24-hour, seven-day-per-week, toll-free telephone line to respond to any well water problems in the vicinity of construction. Should you experience any problems with your water supply that may be the result of floodway construction, the number to call is:

1-877-456-1201

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10 - How can I get involved?

By checking out our web site and reading this far - you already are involved. Congratulations! Keep looking through the site to find out other ways of participating. If you have a question, call us at (204) 945-4900 or toll free 1-866-356-6355.