The planned route for BiPole III (courtesy MB Hydro)

 

 

Well over a hundred farmers and landowners were denied the chance to speak at a committee meeting on Bipole III at the legislature last night.

The landowners were hoping to share their concerns with the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations regarding the plan to build the transmission line down the west side of the province.

A motion by the PCs to have Niverville-area farmer Karen Friesen make a 10 minute presentation was shot down by the NDP members.

"We were point blank turned down. They did not want to hear our concerns. Various people also sent in their written concerns and weren't even acknowledged," says Friesen. "We have major concerns and we're not having the chance to voice them."

"They just can't face the fact that they're running over landowners and going with the wrong route. They are not listening to how they're going to impact us for generations to come," she says.

"We can't even get them to commit to a date to meet with us. They want to one-on-one us and basically just want to dismiss our concerns."

The planned route would see the transmission line crossing her family's home quarter, in close proximity to her family's home, as well as poultry and hog operations. She says they have grave concerns about the health and safety promises that Manitoba Hydro has made regarding the line. "Hydro suggests there are no direct concerns, but if you do some research you can certainly see lots of suspicions regarding health and safety with transmission lines."

That's just one of the landowners' concerns. Friesen points out the province is choosing to divide and use some of the most valuable farmland in the province, while constructing it through some of the most highly-populated areas of southern Manitoba.

She says all Manitobans will be affected by the government's decision to go with the western route. She points to information in a leaked Manitoba Hydro memo obtained by the PCs which indicates the westerly route will add $1.75 billion to the cost of building the line, potentially costing the average Manitoba family about $7000.

A group of engineers were also at the committee meeting to protest the proposed route.

Along with the request regarding Friesen's presentation, the PCs also introduced a motion to have former Hydro chair and CEO Len Bateman make a presentation against the planned route. Bateman was appointed by Premier Ed Shreyer and served from 1972 to 1979. The motions for both Friesen and Bateman's presentations were defeated.

~ Tuesday, October 26, 2010 ~