Boissevain-Morton was one of the ten projects that were awarded funding through the Mitigation and Preparedness Program (MPP), through the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO), this to mitigate against future disasters.

Mayor Judy Swanson says many municipalities have rural roads that have sunk over the years, due to a variety of reasons such as the wear and tear of the cycle of freeze-thaw, or overland flooding.  "Sometimes the water comes out of the hills a lot quicker than normal so there are places that need to be raised and so this grant we applied for, and we received, and I'm pleased that we did."

"And so, we're using the money to raise a road that needed to be raised," she says. "It was always a problem.  It's not a lot of money in road construction terms, but certainly everything helps."

Mayor Swanson says the Dueck road north of Boissevain was the main access to their farm.  The road raising got started last fall with the final packing and laying down of gravel this summer will complete the rebuild. 

"It's a municipal road that is well used and certainly by the Dueck's living there," she adds.  "But it had been low and so we were really pleased we were able to get that money to go towards that project."

For this round of MPP funding, municipalities affected by the 2023 spring flood were eligible to apply.

The 10 approved projects for the 2023 MPP include:

  • up to $20,873 to the Municipality of Boissevain-Morton for road raising;
  • up to $12,077 to the Municipality of Cartwright-Roblin for a reserve fund;
  • up to $13,361 to the Municipality of Deloraine-Winchester for a reserve fund to purchase an EOC generator;
  • up to $22,030 to the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin for lift station generators;
  • up to $60,794 to the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie for emergency preparedness purchases;
  • up to $18,306 to the Municipality of Louise for culvert replacements;
  • up to $11,553 to the Rural Municipality of Montcalm for a reserve fund;
  • up to $13,108 to the Municipality of Mossey River to purchase VHF radios;
  • up to $16,000 to the Municipality of Norfolk Treherne for a reserve fund for road raising and armoring; and
  • up to $52,603 to the Municipality of Rhineland for road raising.

Since its inception in 2020, the MPP has provided $3.7 million in support to 120 projects.