I find myself thinking a lot about water these days. From boil advisories and chlorinated water to Idle No More’s “Water Wednesdays” and the UN’s “Right to Water.” How many people in our country go without clean drinking water or plumbing everyday? Approximately one-sixth of First Nations reserves water is not safe to drink according to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In fact, even the residents of Shoal Lake #40 have not had access to their own water for over 18 years without compensation so Winnipeggers can have clean water. But yesterday I found myself looking at yet another important concern, especially for Manitobans – hydroelectricity and the actions of Manitoba Hydro.
I find myself considering the fact that as a Winnipegger what do I really know about where my electricity and water from my tap come from. Even me, a university student who has dedicated the last 12 years of my life to studying environmental issues and geography, find myself in the dark when it comes to Manitoba Hydro Dam development and the issues surrounding our drinking water and Shoal Lake. I was shocked to find such devastation in terms of human rights violations, especially since we have been deemed the authority on human rights with the new museum. How can we be so trusting of an entity whose sole purpose is money and revenue for its stakeholders? If this is such a public utility and company why do I feel we are kept in the dark? Where is water governance at in Manitoba? Who really is protecting, or at the very least monitoring, Lake Winnipeg and the regulation of it by Manitoba Hydro?
I was recently asked to represent the Winnipeg Chapter of Council of Canadians at meetings being held by the Consumer Association of Canada (CAC) and the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) in regards to Lake Winnipeg Regulation by Manitoba Hydro. I represented the chapter as a stakeholder with interests in the outcome of the Clean Environment Commission of Manitoba’s (CEC) review of Manitoba Hydro’s license. These two organizations are collecting information from ALL who are impacted by Manitoba Hydro and Lake Winnipeg. Which is pretty much ALL of us Manitobans.
Gloria Desorcy, Consumer Association of Canada (CAC) – Pam Godin, Council of Canadians Winnipeg Chapter – Joelle Pastora Sala, Public Interest Law Centre (PILC)
Did you know that Manitoba Hydro is applying for a license to regulate Lake Winnipeg? In fact they have been regulating the Lake since 1977 under an interim license under the Manitoba Water Power Act due to the fact they had established hydroelectric dams in Manitoba prior to the Environment Act of 1987 and have now been grandfathered from any environmental assessment obligations. If approved their next step is to renew their license in 2026. But what about doing what is right? How about “reconciling” with those who have been devastated by hydro development? Over 40 Indigenous communities are directly impacted by Lake Winnipeg Regulation not to mention the countless cottage owners around the Lake. What about the Northern Flood Agreement signed in 1977 by five affected First Nations, Manitoba Hydro and both governments? What about the ensuing ecological devastation of species and wetlands?
But what about us in Winnipeg? Where are our moral obligations when it comes to using electricity? Why do we think it is so “clean” and “green”? In fact, there are many concerns world wide regarding the environmental impacts on hydro dams, including their impact on climate change. Examples include damage to fisheries, mercury poisoning, forced relocation of First Nations, and habitat destruction to name a few. The World Commission on Dams Report in 2000 clearly states “…in the assessment process social and environmental aspects have the same significance as economic and financial factors.“
I strongly encourage all of us Winnipeggers, who sometimes blindly leave the lights on, without considering where that energy comes from, to start to think about our greatest resource as Manitobans – OUR WATER. We need to see our water as a precious resource and take pride in our province and our many lakes. They are not only a non-renewable resource but also a precious gift that we take for granted EVERYDAY. I highly recommend that we take a good look at Manitoba Hydro and make sure that we hold them accountable for being governors of the lake, whether we want them to be or not, they are here to stay for awhile. We ARE the stewards of the Lake, whether we like it or not, and we have a responsibility to ourselves and to our future generations to protect it. For in fact where would we be without it?
Contributor: Pam Godin – Council of Canadians Winnipeg Chapter