What Peguis First Nation leaders say needs to happen to end flooding issues
Manitoba First Nations leaders are calling on the provincial and federal governments to collaborate and end flooding in Peguis First Nation.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson and Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, called on the two levels of government to invest in permanent infrastructure to keep the community safe from flooding.
“This issue surrounding flooding at Peguis First Nation has to come to an end, in terms of our people being impacted by high waters,” Hudson said.
This year, the Fisher River overflowed its banks, flooding Peguis First Nation and forcing the evacuation of more than 1,800 people from the community. Many are now in Winnipeg, Brandon and other communities until the water recedes and it is safe for them to return home.
“Our citizens shouldn't be staying in hotel rooms here in Winnipeg, and should be given the opportunity to start to protect ourselves going forward for many, many generations, and not simple Band-Aid solutions,” Daniels said.
Hudson said earlier this month that this year’s flooding in Peguis First Nation is the fourth major flood in the past 12 years.
He is demanding help from the province to improve roads and drainage in the region.
“We deserve drainage too, we deserve proper funding, and we deserve proper roadways, just like any other Manitoban and Canadian,” Hudson said.
During a Friday morning announcement, Saint Boniface MP Dan Vandal said the federal government is in constant communication with Peguis. He said he spoke with Hudson last week on flood mitigation planning, and asked Hudson to share plans with his office.
“I absolutely think we need to find a long-term solution, so I’m going to work cooperatively with the chief and the First Nation and try to find a long-term solution to the flooding,” he said.
Vandal added, “It has happened too often in the past, and we need to find a remedy in partnership with the First Nation and the province.”
A spokesperson for the Manitoba government said the province is assessing damage to provincial infrastructure as river levels begin to recede.
“Our government is committed to working collaboratively with First Nations leadership, surrounding communities and the federal government to address long-term flood mitigation improvements,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Throughout this flood event, the province has been working closely with all local authorities, Indigenous communities and emergency management partners during these challenges to support all response and recovery activities."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.