[Excerpts from Apr. 30 Manitoba Press Release]
Ernie Gilroy has been appointed to head up work on the Red River Floodway expansion project, Conservation Minister Steve Ashton announced today. Gilroy, who is retiring shortly from his position as manager of the City of Winnipeg’s Executive Policy Committee Secretariat, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Floodway Expansion Interim Management uthority, established to oversee the entire floodway expansion project.

Gilroy’s tasks include developing recommendations for the structure of the Interim Management Authority, finalizing negotiations on project financing, and liaising with other levels of government, local communities and the private sector. The new Interim Management Authority will report directly to a special committee of cabinet, chaired by the premier.

The cost of completing the full expansion project is estimated at $660 million. When fully completed, it will offer protection from a flood with a one in 700 years probability of occurrence. Work on the entire expanded floodway project is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits and thousands of jobs.

Gilroy is the current chair of the General Insurance Council of Manitoba and has held a variety of positions within the insurance industry.

Full Release

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