Latest news with #TransportationandInfrastructure
Global News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Global News
Manitoba government touts $115M in Highway 2 improvements
The Manitoba government says it's spending $15 million on Provincial Trunk Highway 2 improvements. The funding is set to be used for 'repairing and replacing structures' on the highway, which runs west from Winnipeg to the provincial border with Saskatchewan. 'These upgrades reflect the priorities of our government in ensuring that local producers, grain elevators and community members have safe and efficient roads in their region,' Premier Wab Kinew said in a statement Friday. 'Some of these roadways have been neglected for a long time and our government recognizes the importance to the community.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Among the planned improvements: rehabbing 15 kilometres of PTH 5, north of PTH 2, which will allow weight restrictions to be lifted during the spring thaw, as well as bridge replacements at Spruce Woods and north of Holland, Man. Story continues below advertisement 'By addressing these long-standing infrastructure challenges, we're not only improving safety and reliability for drivers, but we are also supporting the economic lifelines of agricultural producers,' Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said. The announcement is the latest in a series of provincial funding initiatives for western Manitoba, ahead of a byelection in Spruce Woods that must be held by mid-September.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Owners shocked Falcon Beach Ranch could be wiped out by Trans-Canada twinning
The owners of a ranch that has been in Whiteshell Provincial Park for 60-plus years fear it will cease to exist if a new Trans-Canada Highway corridor cuts through the area. Kendra Imrie said land and horse-riding trails used by Falcon Beach Ranch, which is also her family's home, would be expropriated if the province builds a new segment nearby when Manitoba's only undivided section of the Trans-Canada is twinned. 'There would be no ranch if that option was chosen,' said Imrie, who co-owns the site with her husband, Devin. 'Until we hear the final decision, it's something that is going to be hanging over us. We're worried.' JESSICA FINN / FREE PRESS FILES 'Until we hear the final decision, it's something that is going to be hanging over us. We're worried,' said Kendra Imrie. JESSICA FINN / FREE PRESS FILES 'Until we hear the final decision, it's something that is going to be hanging over us. We're worried,' said Kendra Imrie. Consultants hired by the Manitoba government are studying potential corridors to align with Ontario's twinned highway. About half a dozen variations are being evaluated with the aim of improving safety and journey times on the trade and travel route, which has become increasingly congested. Several people have been killed or injured in crashes on the existing two-lane, 16-kilometre stretch between Falcon Lake and the provincial boundary in recent years. A preferred corridor has not yet been selected during a three-year conceptual design phase, which will be followed by a functional design. The province has not set a construction start date or estimated cost. At a July 3 community meeting, the Imries learned an option that includes a new highway segment just east of the ranch, which would require expropriation, is being considered since an earlier presentation. SUPPLIED The six highway route alternatives that are under review. SUPPLIED The six highway route alternatives that are under review. 'We were pretty shocked,' Imrie said. The Imries shared their concerns with consultants and Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure. 'Safe roads for Manitobans are a top priority, and twinning Highway 1 is a key step toward improving safety and supporting our trade network,' Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said in a statement. 'We know how important this project is for families, businesses, Indigenous nations, and the economy, and we're taking the time to consult and move it forward thoughtfully and responsibly.' The Imries' lease of 40 acres of Crown land, just north of the Trans-Canada, includes a clause that allows them to make and maintain the trails. Imrie said it is a unique spot in eastern Manitoba because it has a pasture and sandy, horse-friendly trails in a boreal forest, with minimal rock and no bogs. 'A loss of the ranch would be a loss for Manitobans,' she said. 'It would have far-reaching implications for this area.' The ranch welcomes thousands of guests each year, and currently employs 15 people, Imrie said. The site opened in 1963. It was acquired by the Imrie family 47 years ago. SUPPLIED Route 1 alternatives: 1A: Add two lanes just north of existing lanes (red); 1B: Add two lanes just south of existing lanes (yellow); 1C: Four new lanes over part of Barren Lake (blue). SUPPLIED Route 1 alternatives: 1A: Add two lanes just north of existing lanes (red); 1B: Add two lanes just south of existing lanes (yellow); 1C: Four new lanes over part of Barren Lake (blue). One proposed corridor would double the existing highway to four lanes. A variation includes a new crossing over Barren Lake. Two other proposals involve a new northern corridor that would go around Barren Lake. New lanes would be constructed just east of the ranch or west of Falcon Beach, creating a bypass of the community. The northern corridor would be a four-lane stretch (turning the existing highway into a local park road) or a two-way couplet with the existing section. While a route that goes as far north as possible would benefit the ranch, business owners in Falcon Beach fear a bypass would lead to a downturn in customers, Imrie said. For each proposed corridor, consultants are considering the potential effect on everything from the environment and cultural sites to homes and businesses. After more than a decade of discussions, studies and planning, Ontario started construction in 2022 on the first of a three-phase plan to twin some 40 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway from its boundary with Manitoba to the Kenora area. After more than a decade of discussions, studies and planning, Ontario started construction in 2022 on the first of a three-phase plan to twin some 40 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway from its boundary with Manitoba to the Kenora area. The first phase, starting at the provincial boundary, expanded about six km of Ontario Highway 17 from two lanes to four at a cost of more than $30 million. Construction has not yet started on the second section, which will be 8.5 kilometres from Highway 673 to Rush Bay Road. The final phase will be 24 kilometres to the Kenora bypass (Highway 17A). An environmental assessment and preliminary design for the second phase are ongoing, the engineering firm WSP Canada Group Ltd., which has been contracted by Ontario's government, said on the project's website July 2. Ontario's transportation ministry has a preferred alignment for the second stage, and is developing mitigation strategies 'to best address potential impacts and concerns' before finalizing a transportation environmental study report, the update said. A construction timeline is expected to be developed after a public review period. Ontario began a route planning and preliminary design study for its Highway 17 'four-laning' project in 2009. Meetings sought feedback from Indigenous land and water rights holders, permanent residents, cottagers, local businesses and industry. Niiwin Wendaanimok (Four Winds) Partnership, which includes Shoal Lake 40 First Nation on the Manitoba-Ontario boundary, will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Manitoba government Aug. 12 to set a 'collaborative path forward,' the organization said in a social media post. Niiwin Wendaanimok signed an MOU with Ontario before its twinning project began east of the provincial boundary. Following its own technical review, the Manitoba Métis Federation has significant concerns about the footprint of the linear corridor, and the project's impacts on the rights, claims and interests of the Red River Métis, said Jack Park, the federation's minister of energy and infrastructure. 'The MMF has made several recommendations to Manitoba seeking to avoid and/or mitigate these impacts such as reconsidering the preferred route and having a Red River Métis monitor on site during construction,' he said in a statement. SUPPLIED Route 2 alternatives: In both options, the existing highway becomes a local park road. In option 2A, four new lanes are added west of the existing pipeline; in 2B, four new lanes are added just east of Falcon Beach Ranch. SUPPLIED Route 2 alternatives: In both options, the existing highway becomes a local park road. In option 2A, four new lanes are added west of the existing pipeline; in 2B, four new lanes are added just east of Falcon Beach Ranch. Whiteshell Cottagers Association president Ken Pickering said attendees' concerns at the July 3 meeting included potential expropriations and the loss of natural land. Some properties could be in the way if the province chooses to expand the existing highway, he said. At least one attendee asked if the highway can remain as is. 'There's a broad range of concern, depending on where you are in the Whiteshell,' Pickering said. 'People do tend to understand there's limited real estate they can go through on that existing route. There's concern that properties would potentially have to be dealt with in those areas.' He said he left the meeting with the impression that everyone understood there are downsides to every option. The assocaition isn't advocating for one option over another. Earlier this month, Premier Wab Kinew announced the Manitoba government will not proceed with a restricted crossing U-turn, or RCUT, at the Trans-Canada and Highway 5 junction — where 17 bus passengers died in a crash in 2023 — following objections from Carberry-area residents. Other options are being explored. SUPPLIED Route 3 alternatives: In both options, the existing highway becomes the eastbound lanes. In option 3A, two new lanes are added west of the existing pipeline to become new westbound lanes; in 3B, two new lanes are added just east of Falcon Beach Ranch to become new westbound lanes. SUPPLIED Route 3 alternatives: In both options, the existing highway becomes the eastbound lanes. In option 3A, two new lanes are added west of the existing pipeline to become new westbound lanes; in 3B, two new lanes are added just east of Falcon Beach Ranch to become new westbound lanes. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-06-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
More crews, firefighting vehicles headed to Cross Lake
A cavalry of firefighters and equipment is being sent to the Cross Lake area to help battle a wildfire that is threatening two neighbouring communities in northern Manitoba. Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias said Thursday that 30 to 35 structural firefighters, six pumpers, tankers and command teams were being mobilized. '(This) morning, I received direct communication from Premier Wab Kinew, who shared the full scope of the manpower, equipment and determination being deployed to protect our homeland, our community, our homes and the infrastructure we've built together with love and sacrifice,' Monias wrote in a Facebook post. The fire near Pimicikamak Cree Nation as seen in late May. (Submitted) He said the additional crews will join 30 firefighters from Cross Lake and Jenpeg, 40 from the province and 30 from the United States. The Manitoba government is scheduled to provide an update on wildfires at 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor are among the scheduled speakers. Two fires are burning near Pimicikamak and the incorporated community of Cross Lake. One of the fires had jumped to a nearby island as of Wednesday. Earlier this week, Monias and other First Nations leaders called on the federal and provincial government to send more equipment and resources to northern First Nations threatened by fire, including Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb (Pukatawagan). 'This is no ordinary response. This is a coalition of nations, communities and protectors coming together in unity, shoulder to shoulder, to confront the threat that has uprooted lives, chased families from their homes, and loomed over our lands for more than two weeks,' Monias wrote Thursday. 'We are not alone.' The U.S. is sending about 100 firefighters and 25 managerial or support staff to Manitoba. They were expected to arrive Thursday and head to their assignments Friday. Pimicikamak and Cross Lake were previously evacuated. Monias has said six residents remain in the area after refusing to leave. The Manitoba Wildfire Service said 27 fires were burning as of Wednesday. The vast majority of Manitoba's roughly 17,000 wildfire evacuees are from northern communities, including Flin Flon and several First Nations. The Winnipeg Police Service, alongside an RCMP representative and Garrison Settee — the grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak — will hold a news conference on 'WPS response to fire evacuee safety' at 1 p.m. Additional firefighting crews are being sent to Flin Flon, where a fire was burning on the perimeter of the evacuated city. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. In a Facebook post, the City of Flin Flon said 260 'dedicated and experienced' personnel are holding back the fire. Neither Flin Flon nor neighbouring Creighton, Sask., have lost structures so far, the Thursday post stated. 'The fire has moved further into Manitoba, to the southeast of Flin Flon and Creighton,' the post said. 'Asset protection is being implemented in the Channing area and the southern parts of Flin Flon.' Crews from Parks Canada and the U.S. are headed to the Rural Municipality of Kelsey. Parks Canada staff will set up a command post at Grace Lake in The Pas, while American firefighters will be extra boots on the ground, said Lori Forbes, the RM's emergency co-ordinator. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Manitoba to provide wildfire update Thursday afternoon
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Manitoba government is set to provide the latest update on the province's ongoing wildfire situation. A number of provincial officials will speak to media at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, including Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister, Manitoba Wildfire Service and Conservation Officer Service, and Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister, Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy By Wednesday, there were 27 active fires across Manitoba, putting the year's total so far — 111 — well above the average of 88 at this time of year. Global News will stream the news conference live on this page.
CBC
28-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
What's another word for budget 'cut?' How about a 'shift?'
Social Sharing After six years of criticizing Progressive Conservative spending cuts, you can understand why some Liberal cabinet ministers are having trouble using the word when talking about their own budgets. "I'm not sure it's a cut but it's a shift here and there," Tourism Minister Isabelle Thériault said this week of a $900,000 reduction in her budget. Faced with questions about an eight per cent cut to his road-maintenance budget, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson declared that the cut may not end up being a cut. WATCH | 'I'm not sure it's a cut': Liberals try to avoid the word: What's another word for 'budget cut?' Liberals have a few 22 minutes ago Duration 2:36 "If we need to spend more money to repair the roads, we will spend the money as needed to make sure that the roads are safe," he said during question period. It's another example of an odd dynamic as each of the two main political parties try to shape a narrative about themselves. To listen to PC Leader Glen Savoie tell it at times, Premier Susan Holt's first provincial budget is about breakneck spending. "Given that we know she isn't going to cut spending, the only alternative is for her to raise taxes," he said in question period Wednesday. Just a few minutes later, however, three of Savoie's own PC colleagues attacked not Liberal spending but Liberal cutting. Kings Centre MLA Bill Oliver denounced "reckless" cuts. Sussex-Three Rivers member Tammy Scott-Wallace declared herself "shocked" that $900,000 was cut from the tourism budget at the very moment the province might lure travellers who have cancelled trips to the United States. And Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills MLA Don Monahan, the party's finance critic, asked why the province was slashing, "of all things," the road maintenance budget. Liberal ministers were clearly reluctant to acknowledge spending restraint, instead arguing that the previous PC government had been far worse. "Their neglect has left me with a mess to clean up, and I can tell you that I am doing my best with the funds we have to clean up the mess that they left," Chiasson said. In a scrum with reporters on Wednesday, Thériault gamely skated around the word "cuts" for several minutes, calling the $900,000 reduction "the number that we're going to shift around" in the coming year. Asked whether the March 18 budget estimates recorded the figure as more money or less money, she called it "a different approach." In fact, those documents confirm it's less money — from about $20.6 million in fiscal 2024-25 to about $19.7 million in fiscal 2025-26. The road maintenance budget is being slashed from $114.8 million to $106.6 million. "Hopefully it's going to be enough," Chiasson said Friday of the money for road repairs. "If it's not, then we look at the overall operation budget and see if there's something we can do somewhere else to maintain the same level of roads that we've had." Their boss, Premier Susan Holt, is, however, more willing to make a virtue of cutting — as long as it's smart cutting in keeping with her vow of "transformational change" to government services. "We're doing this really carefully," Holt said in a speech Friday to close the debate on her budget before a final vote of approval. "I like to say we're going to measure twice and cut once, to know that we've done things right. "It's important to us that we choose to spend money on what is most important to New Brunswickers, and we seek savings in the places where we can get creative and innovative." Savoie, when asked to reconcile his accusations of Liberal spending with his team's criticism of Liberal cuts, said New Brunswickers should get the services they need but "in a fiscally responsible manner." As for Holt's comment about measuring twice and cutting once — smart cuts, in other words — the PC leader said the comments by Thériault and Chiasson show the Liberals will inevitably abandon whatever fiscal discipline they've adopted. "I think we've unfortunately already seen the lie put to that because we've seen two of their own members say they're going to blow past their departmental budgets already," he said. The legislature adjourned Friday for five weeks, during which a committee of MLAs will pore over individual departmental budgets — a chance to debate the issue even more. If Holt is sincere about pushing what she calls "transformational change" to government services, including new ways to deliver health care and education, that debate is likely to go on for the rest of the Liberal mandate — whatever word they choose to use for cuts.
