Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen is encouraging residents that will be affected by Manitoba Hydro’s proposed Bipole II project. He says that the government is putting out wrong information on the project including that the route can not be changed.

   “There are a couple of things – obviously when they are going to the public meetings – they should be clear in telling officials that we do not believe that it is the right location for the line but that it should going completely on the other side of the province like Hydro initially planned,” stated Goertzen. “This decision can be changed.”

   When proposing the line, Hydro had to keep the project clear of national and provincial parks and First Nation Land. After consideration, the utility has proposed a 1,364 kilometre line that runs from the Conawapa generating station near The Pas, through the province and down into the southeast.

   Opposition leader Hugh McFayden says his party tried to allow people to speak about the project at a recently Crown Corporations Committee meeting but says that they were not allowed the chance.

   “Much to our surprise the NDP government refused to allow both these people to be heard,” stated McFayden. “The opposition is very strong once you get into areas were you have a lot of privately owned land.” 

   According to a map, the new hydro line will cross Highway 75 and run east from Ste. Agathe along PR 305. It will continue eastward until north of Mitchell where it will turn northward to PR 210 east of Landmark and then head towards Ste. Anne where it turns north again.

   MEanwile, Manitoba Hydro announced a compensation package that is expected to appease opposition from landowners. The crown corporation says they will take assessment value of the land and multiply it by 1.3 then multiply that amount by 75% as an easement payment.  Crop land that may be affected will also be compensated.

   The aim is to have construction start in 2012 and have the line operating in 2017.

   The RM of Ritchot’s municipal landfill became a hot topic during the recent municipal elections. Accusations were made that the municipality was allowing contaminated material to be disposed of at the landfill site without any discretion to material or origin.

  As candidates campaigned for the election, ratepayers were told that the municipality was knowingly accepting contaminated materials at its Class One Waste Disposal Ground without any consideration of the source.

   Mayor Bob Stefaniuk denies those accusations.

   “Our site only takes solid waste such as construction or demolition waste and household waste,” stated Stefaniuk. “Ritchot’s landfill is a licensed facility and is closely monitored and inspected on a continuous basis by the province to ensure that it is in compliance to environmental regulations.”

   According to Stefaniuk, the landfill is set up into two distinctive parts – a soil recycling area and the waste disposal grounds.

   “At the soil recycling facility, soil contaminated by petroleum products is taken in and cleaned. Usually this soil comes from gas stations that are being decommissioned or having new tanks installed,” Stefaniuk explained. “At the facility, the soil is farmed or turned over until all the volatiles evaporate. The soil is then considered safe and complies to provincial environmental standards.”

   Once it passes standards, the soil is then used to cover the refuse in the solid waste portion every day.

    “Before the soil is allowed to be moved after it is processed, it is checked by an independent agency that certifies it meets regulatory requirements,” he added. “The soil operation is licensed by the Province of Manitoba and they regulate and monitor the operation on a regular basis.”

   The RM of Ritchot’s landfill is one of three class one waste disposal grounds in the area that is operated through a private-public partnership which allows the municipality to make money on the operation instead of burdening the taxpayers with the cost of operations.

   “This arrangement makes good political and good business sense that benefits everyone in the municipality,” Stefaniuk added. “This operation is envied by other municipalities in the Winnipeg Capital Region.”

Ritchot’s mayor denies allegations that the municipality does not regulate the materials brought into the municipal landfill.

By Marianne Curtis

   Construction of the long awaited seniors housing complex in La Broquerie kicked off recently with an official sod turning.

   On October 29, the Le Chalet seniors housing complex officially started with a ground breaking ceremony so that construction can begin. The La Broquerie seniors’ project has received support by $4 million in joint government funding and was led by Le Chalet de La Broquerie.

   The community raised $1 million towards the project through various fundraising events and donations from the public and private sectors.

   Provencher MP Vic Toews says that the federal government has contributed to the construction portion of the project while the province has committed to supporting the operations.

   “This project not only provides a place for seniors to live but it also stabilizes the population so that younger people stay in the community because their parents are staying,” stated Toews. “I commend the support shown towards this project by the community.”

    The significant expansion of the Chalet de La Broquerie Inc consists of adding twenty-four one bedroom units to the existing nineteen. They will be rented to low to moderate income seniors. Twelve one-bedroom units will be available on a Rent-Geared-to-Income basis.

   “There is a great need for this type of project as there was no other way to keep seniors in the community,” added Jeanne Beaupre, chairperson of the Le Chalet Board. “We are very excited to see this project moving forward.”

   Once the building is complete residents in the facility will have access to services such as meals, laundry, and housekeeping, as well as 24-hour supervision by a client care attendant. Other easy-to-access services will also be available, such as a common room and a multipurpose dining room.

   Funding for this project was made available through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession.

   Now that this portion of the project is moving forward, the Chalet board is setting its sight on adding a supportive housing complex in the future.

In Grunthal, this $4.5 million affordable housing project was officially opened.

  By Marianne Curtis

   A year after construction began, the community of Grunthal celebrated the grand opening of a new assisted living and supportive housing complex recently with an official ribbon cutting.

   On October 29, the Menno Home Board and Foundation celebrated the official completion of the $4.5 million housing complex. The new complex has been named Greendale Estate and is located adjacent to the Menno Home for the Aged.

   According to Annie Funk, residents began moving into the 42 bed specialized housing complex at the beginning of September.

   “Tremendous community support and financial contributions helped make Greendale Estate a reality,” stated Funk. “This is a culmination of much hard work and all involved are excited that this project is successfully built.”

   The $4.5 million housing project will includes twelve supportive housing units and thirty one-bedroom assisted living units for low to moderate income seniors.

   Local fundraising and contributions from the RM of Hanover have helped to see this project to fruition. The RM of Hanover council has promised $400,000 to the project to be distributed over a ten year period. The $2.7 million balance of the project was made available for the initiative through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession.

Seventeen ladies including Karen Toews, Bev Dueck, Sherril Reimer and Angela Dyckhave already joined the Chrysalis Fund which is a giving circle so that women can become involved with philanthropy in the community. 

By Marianne Curtis

   A new group recently established in Steinbach is expected to bring women together in a new philanthropic venture through a not for profit giving circle.

   The group, which is calling itself the Chrysalis Fund by Debbie Krahn and Simone Penner was organized to bring women together to learn about their community and philanthropy.

   Penner says that giving circles are a new venture in the world of philanthropy that offers women the opportunity to create a powerful force for change.

   A giving circle is formed when women come together and combine their money into a shared fund. They decided together were to give the interest earned from the fund and learn about their community and philanthropy. So far, seventeen women have joined the group.

   “It involves women who may not consider themselves philanthropists to explore the potential to give in a creative manner,” Penner explained. “It is a low key commitment that hopefully will entail lots of fun.”

   The Chrysalis Fund hopes to meet twice a year to review and celebrate the impact granting has made, receive feedback from the organizations they’ve funded and to learn about new opportunities to give.

   To participate in the giving circle, members are expected to provide a minimum financial contribution.

   “We felt that if we set the contribution level at $1000.00 it would feel like a special philanthropic opportunity as opposed to just another charitable contribution,” added Penner. “Some members have decided to donate to the fund this year instead of buying Christmas gifts and we have also received gifts to honour someone’s birthday.” She noted that anyone can give to the fund without becoming a member.

    For the next five years of The Chrysalis Fund will also get support from the Winnipeg Foundation. The Winnipeg Foundation has set out a project which provides giving circles some granting money. The first year it matched 50% of the capital up to a maximum of $5000.00.  Then it will decrease the matching grant by five percent each year in hopes that by the end of five years The Chrysalis Fund will have enough of its own capital to earn a sizable amount of interest to donate. 

   Anyone women Interested women can make contact by emailing thechrysalisfund@gmail.com.

Cheryl Main and Lisa Beauchamp Rogal from the Steinbach Humane Society met some of the members of Rescue Ink. 

   The president and a volunteer from the Steinbach Humane Society received a rare opportunity to meet the men behind the biggest animal rescue operation in North America.

   On October 8, Lisa Beauchamp Rogal and Cheryl Main from the Steinbach Humane Society met with some of the men from Rescue Ink at a meet and greet in Winnipeg.

   “It was really an honour to meet them and hear a little about their adventures,” recalled Rogal, president of the local organization. “Now that we’ve met them we are going to tell them more about the Steinbach Humane Society and see if they have any advice as to which way we should be going or anything.”

   Rescue Ink is a group of bikers and ex cons who are dedicated to rescuing animals and establishing animal shelters. They are also the stars of a reality TV show that is follows the group as they rescue abused and abandoned animals.

By Marianne Curtis

   The RM of La Broquerie council has officially denied allegations that they obtained private information regarding the employment of a previous employee without her permission and leaked it to the media.

   In a statement issued October 6, the RM of La Broquerie council publicly released their response to an investigation launched by the Ombudsman back in August. The investigation was launched after Lori Wood made a complaint alleging that the municipality and the reeve obtained and leaked her private information to a local radio station.

   The municipal council responded by saying that they have never obtained Lori Wood’s contract from the District of Stewart, British Columbia and therefore could not disclose a document that the Municipality never possessed, says the statement by council.

   Furthermore, the municipality says that until the District of Stewart contacted them looking for Wood after she did not come to work, the RM of La Broquerie was not aware that she was working there.

   “The Municipality was only aware that Lori Wood was on a paid leave of absence supported by a doctor’s note,” stated the municipality.

   An email provided by the RM of La Broquerie backs up the municipality’s claim.

   “Reeve Marielle Wiebe arid I discussed timing of Lori Woods employment with the District of Stewart on a couple of occasions, but at no time did the District of Stewart ever forward any information about Lori Wood’s employment contract or any other information from her personnel file,” stated the letter from Angela Danuser, Mayor of the District of Stewart. “At no lime was there ever a request for such information, if there was, this request would have gone through the formal freedom of information process.”     

   The RM of La Broquerie also denies allegations that the reeve was not in conflict of interest in relation even though she was named in the complaint yet she participated in the in-camera discussions.

    “There are no money issues benefiting any member of council and no conflict of interest issues exist,” stated council.

   The RM of La Broquerie council is still waiting for the Ombudsman to conclude this particular investigation.

By Marianne Curtis

   RM of Stuartburn reeve Jim Swidersky denies rumors that a long standing issue between his municipality and the RM of Franklin has been resolved.

   Word on the streets in the RM of Stuartburn has been that the municipality won a lawsuit they had launched against the RM of Franklin. Swidersky says that during campaigning residents said they heard the matter was settled.

   “As of yesterday (October 29), this is still an ongoing issue and nothing has been resolved,” stated Swidersky. “It is in the hands of our lawyer and we can not talk about it until the matter is settled.”

   The lawsuit stems back nearly a decade when the RM of Stuartburn received a $200,000 funding commitment of Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure funds to complete approximately six miles of ditching along the intermunicipal road divided by PR #201. This amount accounted for two-thirds of the project, with $100,000 to come from the two municipalities.

   However, when the RM of Franklin was requested to cost share the project at $50,000 they returned with a counter offer of $25,000 and a proposal to add another 2 miles of ditch so that the water can be diverted to the Roseau River. Stuartburn eventually completed the project but without any financial contribution from Franklin. The matter has sense ended up in litigation.

   Ironically, the RM of Franklin is suing the RM of De Salaberry over a similar situation, confirmed De Salaberry reeve Ron Musick.

   “Yes as far as we still know, the R.M. of Franklin still has an on going litigation against De Salaberry, however the matter seems to have remained dormant for the past several months, so we don’t know the status of the claim,” says Musick.

   This matter stemmed from De Salaberry’s filling in a controversial intermunicipal ditch that was allegedly dug without the proper permits and through a protected area back in 2006. A year later the RM of De Salaberry was served with papers by the RM of Franklin for costs associated to that project because Franklin had paid for a portion of that ditch when it was dug.

   Both municipalities are hoping that with RM of Franklin’s former reeve Archer Hunter no longer in office both matters will be resolved without further litigation.

By Marianne Curtis

    The RM of Piney’s new reeve is ready and eager to get down to business. Duane Boutang is looking forward to sitting down with the former council to find out what their major issues.

   “We are going to sit down with the former council to find out what they’re major issues were – here it seems to always be drainage, roads, culverts, gravel, economic development, and of course cell phone huge challenge,” stated Boutang. “There are a lot of problems with the ditches that shouldn’t have been such a problem.”

   Boutang says he was surprised while campaigning to discover how many ratepayers able to vote in the RM of Piney that do not actually live in the municipality.

   “This presents us with a huge challenge because we can not use their voices to go after our MLA’s because they vote somewhere else which presents a unique challenge for the RM of Piney,” Boutang noted. “Only one quarter of the municipality is privately owned and half of that is by outsiders – the remainder is crown land.”

   Boutang hopes that the next provincial election will work in the municipality’s favor.

   “If Dennis Smook gets elected it would be good for us because he is more aware of our unique issues,” added Boutang. Smook recently gained the Tory nod to be the area’s representative in the next provincial election. “It would be better for us.”

   One of the big issues that Boutang would like to see addressed that would help the municipality immensely would be having the province pay for money towards infrastructure.

   “We don’t get a nickel back from all the forestry that is taken out of the area from crown land yet we pay for the ditches and the roads,” Boutang explained. “They should be sharing it.”

    Boutang feels strongly that the RM of Piney has vast potential and he is looking forward to helping steer the municipality to a better future.

   Seventy-seven year old Jake Redekop died as a result of being pinned in the cab of his tractor after it broke an axle and throwing him into the steering wheel. He managed to call a family member for help and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. He died a short time later and the cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma, say St. Pierre RCMP.

   Redekop was well known in the community of Niverville. In 1967 he was elected to the Niverville Credit Union board of directors where he sat as President for a number of years.

   Niverville Credit Union general manager George Sawatsky says that Redekop will be greatly missed by the community.

   “He gave many great years of service,” Sawatsky said. “He will be greatly missed.”

   Redekop was named Cooperator of the Year a few years ago, and served as a director of the Red River Coop, the Niverville Health Foundation, Corporation of Providence College, Seniors Housing, Farm Debt Review Board, and sat as a member of the local Pool elevator.

   He leaves behind Marge, his wife for fifty-one years along with an adult son and daughter.