Dozens protest outside closed meeting over contentious silica project in Manitoba
A contentious debate over a silica sand project in rural Manitoba boiled over in the RM of Springfield, where one area councillor says she was threatened at her home.
Manitoba RCMP was on hand Monday as dozens of residents showed up outside the municipal office in the rural municipality. Inside the office, councillors held a special meeting on the rezoning of land for a Sio Silica development facility.
"I'm super concerned about our municipal government acting in bad faith," said Alan Akins, who was among the crowd of residents – several carrying signs calling for the mayor to resign, and others expressing concern about the effects the development would have on water and wells.
The Sio Silica corporation has been looking to extract silica sand and process it at a new facility near Vivian, Man. In 2022, Springfield's council voted against a zoning amendment that would allow this type of activity.
However, the company made an appeal to the Manitoba Municipal Board, which then ordered the rural municipality to amend the zoning bylaw.
Council attempted to deal with this issue last week during a special meeting over the project – but it came to an abrupt end when an argument broke out between Mayor Patrick Therrien and one of the attendees. It prompted Therrien to call the police and adjourn the meeting.
READ MORE: Meeting over controversial rural Manitoba silica sand project cut short after mayor calls police
The matters were then put over to Monday's meeting.
However, none of the residents or the media were allowed inside for the meeting this time. Instead, residents had to stand outside the office and watch the council debate through Zoom. A motion put forward by another councillor to allow media into the meeting was voted down.
It was a precaution the RM took over what it described as safety concerns.
Coun. Melinda Warren said a threat was made to her home phone.
"That is not lightly taken. I don't know what that threat means and I do not want the public to be involved in a chamber that we don't know what could happen," Warren said Monday afternoon.
Therrien said police are investigating the matter.
At Monday's meeting, council dealt with a number of resolutions put forward by Coun. Mark Miller over the 2.5-hour meeting. Among the resolutions was one seeking an extension with the municipal board that sent council in-camera in order to speak with lawyers.
In the end, the zoning bylaw amendment passed with a vote of three to two.
The motion on the development agreement failed with two for and two against. Warren abstained from voting due to the threat made to her home.
-with files from CTV's Carie Willson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey
Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.