What is the future of Flin Flon? Should a road connect Flin Flon with Pukatawagan? Does the government have a role to play in providing highway bus service?
Flin Flon’s MLA candidates – Leslie Beck, Angela Enright, Tom Lindsey and Clarence Pettersen – addressed those and other questions at a public forum Monday evening.
With about 60 people on hand, candidates were asked to identify their “back-up plan” for Flin Flon if 777 mine closes as planned in 2020 with no nearby mine to replace it.
Beck, a Liberal, noted Flin Flon has its own mayor and council and that she has “every faith” they are already talking about the 777 closure.
Beck said council has options to consider, such as the provincial mining reserve fund, but it is up to council to invite the government to the table for discussions.
A Liberal government would take part in those discussions “and from there plans and strategies will be put into place,” Beck told the forum, held at Flin Flon City Hall Council Chambers.
Enright, a Progressive Conservative, said her party believes “northern Manitoba has been sorely ignored for many years. That’s probably the reason we’re in the position we’re in.”
The province must remove impediments to mineral exploration while directing investments toward mining, where most of the jobs in the area exist, Enright said.
Enright touted her party’s Yes! North plan, which includes a focus on economic development and the mineral sector.
Lindsey, a New Democrat, said Flin Flon must work with Saskatchewan and the aboriginal community “to find a plan.”
The NDP, Lindsey said, has been willing to invest in exploration and open up additional land for exploration.
Lindsey also stressed the need to listen to people’s ideas for economic development and mentioned the possibility of establishing green manufacturing in the North.
Pettersen, the independent incumbent, said he is concerned not only about 777, but also the future of the Flin Flon zinc refinery.
Pledging to fight for good-paying jobs, Pettersen mentioned the McIlvenna Bay deposit outside Flin Flon. Referencing an earlier comment about government ownership in mines, he wondered why the Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments can’t have a stake in McIlvenna Bay.
Pettersen also emphasized a positive outlook rather than a negative one.
Road link
What about the concept of an all-weather road to link Flin Flon with Pukatawagan, a remote reserve 114 km to the north?
Lindsey said he supports the road, adding that work needs to be done to determine the best route.
Roads to all northern communities are “essential,” Lindsey said, adding that they also cost money.
Pettersen said the road is needed to ensure “First Nations are included in our community” and have choices in education and where they spend their money.
The road could continue further north to Lynn Lake and onto Nunavut while providing more opportunities for new mines, Pettersen said.
Enright said “any road, anywhere helps people” and unites communities.
The PCs would pump $1 billion a year into Manitoba’s infrastructure and let communities choose their own infrastructure priorities, Enright added.
Beck said a first step for road projects is to settle treaty land entitlements.
“We’ve got to come to the table collaboratively and collectively and we have to make [First Nations] a part of our economy,” Beck said, “and we have to make them part of the decision making because that is essential” to the process.
Candidates were also asked about northern Manitoba’s highway bus service, which was significantly reduced after the NDP yanked a subsidy for Greyhound in 2012.
Enright said many northerners’ concerns about the reductions “fell on deaf ears in the government.”
The government should support northern entrepreneurs willing to provide an alternate bus service in the region, Enright said.
Beck said Liberal leader Rana Bokhari has stated the government must address transportation for people in rural Manitoba if it does not already exist.
Re-establishing connections with Greyhound would be a priority for a Liberal government, said Beck.
Pettersen said that as an NDP MLA he fought then-transportation minister Steve Ashton over the reductions.
Pettersen said Saskatchewan’s publicly owned bus company offers great service to all communities in that province, and that Manitoba can afford a service that reaches all Manitobans.
Lindsey said he would strongly advocate for a transportation service for northern people.
“Absolutely we need to be able to get from point A to point B,” Lindsey said. “I don’t advocate for throwing money at Greyhound, the private corporation who continued to cut service and continued to ask for more money.”
Funding
On the question of whether government funding should continue to be allocated on a per-capita basis, some candidates embraced a fresh approach.
Pettersen said “there has to be a better formula so that we can make sure that everybody has the same standards, whether it’s in health care or roads or infrastructure help.”
Lindsey said funding needs to be available to all northern communities in areas such as recreation, infrastructure and health care, adding that the NDP has provided generous funding and would continue to do so.
Enright said the question relates to infrastructure needs. In that regard, she said her party has pledged $1 billion a year in infrastructure funding while giving communities a say in identifying their priorities.
Beck said the federal government has committed to a review of this issue. She spoke of working collaboratively with Ottawa to find out what the funding formula should be, as the current one is outdated.
Priorities
Candidates offered varied answers when asked to identify their single biggest priority for Flin Flon.
Beck cited the need to give municipalities revenue from one point of the PST, allowing them to spend it on their needs.
Economic development was Enright’s top priority, while Pettersen mentioned the need to ensure the Flin Flon zinc refinery continues to operate.
Lindsey said the people would need to tell him what their top priority is rather than have him decide.
In his closing statement, Lindsey framed the upcoming election as a choice between continued progress under the NDP and cuts under the PCs.
Pettersen touted investments made in the riding during his term as MLA and urged voters to consider three qualities in their representative: leadership, integrity and community engagement.
Enright rolled off PC campaign promises, said Manitoba cannot be “taxed into prosperity” and reminded voters of polls showing her party will likely form the next government.
Beck described herself as “honest,” “tenacious” and a “workaholic” who is ready to hit the ground running. She said she has spent her whole life building the competencies required for the job of MLA.
Monday’s forum was organized by the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s Dave Kendall moderated.
Manitoba voters head to the polls April 19. Visit The Reminder’s website at www.thereminder.ca and click on the Elections tab for more on the local campaign.
Mining theme
Mining was a recurring theme throughout Monday’s forum.
Dave Koop, who has worked in mineral exploration for the past 25 years, said activity in the field has declined in Manitoba due to government roadblocks. He asked how the candidates would help ensure prospectors can do their jobs.
“We can’t make policies like having parks in the North at the expense of mines,” Pettersen said. “We’ve got to realize that our opportunity is mining.”
Pettersen spoke in favour of cutting red tape and enhancing leadership around mining at the government level.
Noting that exploration is in the midst of a global downturn, Lindsey said permitting takes time – but the Lalor and Reed mines were likely approved in “record time” under the NDP.
Lindsey said exploration-related consultation with First Nations needs to take place quickly and sensibly so that everyone benefits from the resources.
Enright said exploration spending in Manitoba has plummeted to $20 million even as spending in Saskatchewan will reach $350 million this year.
Manitoba’s impediments must be removed, Enright said, adding that there must also be a framework around the duty to consult with First Nations on mining projects.
Beck said government should step up to join working groups that favour an approach that is suitable for both people and the environment.
“We are in the future going to be a very diverse and rich part of the country,” added Beck.
