[Excerpts from Mar. 10, 2004 Govt. of Manitoba Press Release]
The roles and responsibilities of a new provincial agency that would manage the expansion and maintenance of the Red River Floodway are proposed in the Floodway Authority Act, introduced today by Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton. As the Manitoba government’s agent, the floodway authority would own the floodway’s physical assets and be responsible for its expansion and maintenance. Operational authority would remain with Manitoba Water Stewardship.

After the 1997 flood, the International Joint Commission concluded that, "under flow conditions similar to that experienced in 1997, the risk of a failure of Winnipeg’s flood protection infrastructure is high." Based on engineering studies and public consultations, the Manitoba government decided an expanded floodway would provide the necessary flood protection for the City of Winnipeg and residents of the Red River basin.

The floodway project is considered a priority by government, so the interim Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority Inc. was created in October 2003 to start the expansion process, including funding arrangements with the federal government. The interim authority would legally cease to exist and the floodway authority would take over its responsibilities. The floodway authority would be overseen by a government-appointed board of directors.

The expansion of the Red River Floodway is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Manitoba’s history. It is expected to protect residents from an 1826 level flood—the largest in the province’s history—and create thousands of jobs. The floodway authority will be announcing its plans for the next phase of public information sessions in the upcoming days.

Full Release

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