Landowners in south-central Manitoba are increasingly frustrated with the province’s agriculture minister, who refuses to meet with them regarding a hydro transmission project.
Farmers and landowners from Brunkild and other communities in southern Manitoba attended question period at the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg Wednesday as part of an effort to meet with agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn.
The farmers are members of the Manitoba Bipole Landowners Committee, a group that represents more than 100 farmers.
The landowners have refused to sign individual right of way agreements for a hydro transmission line called Bipole III. Instead the group of more than 100 landowners wants a collective deal with Manitoba Hydro, the provincial utility and crown corporation. They want to negotiate the compensation and conditions for the right of way across their property.
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Blaine Pedersen, a Progressive Conservative MLA who represents a constituency in south-central Manitoba, asked Kostyshyn several questions about Bipole III and the landowner group yesterday.
In a tweet, Pedersen said Kostyshyn ignored the questions and snubbed the producers.
“Ag minister Kostyshyn hides under his desk while landowners ask for meeting yesterday. Shameful. Disrespect for Ag in MB.”
Vicki Neufeld, who owns an acreage in the affected region and attended question period in Winnipeg yesterday, said the minister’s conduct was disappointing.
“It was insult to injury yesterday, when we took the time out of our busy schedules and travelled into (Winnipeg) … after several failed attempts of trying to get a meeting with him.”
The proposed route for Bipole III doesn’t cut across her property but Neufeld decided to volunteer with the Bipole Committee because Manitoba Hydro and the government are stomping on landowner rights.
“They would rather just take the land away, rather than sit down and work out a fair business deal.”
The Manitoba Bipole Landowners Committee has contracted the Canadian Association of Energy and Pipeline Landowner Associations (CAEPLA), to represent them in negotiations with Manitoba Hydro.
Dave Core, CAEPLA chair and chief executive officer, said Manitoba Hydro and the provincial government’s hard-line stance is surprising. CAEPLA has negotiated right of way agreements between landowner groups and a number of private companies and utilities in Western Canada.
He said Manitoba Hydro has initiated the process to expropriate the land of farmers who have refused to sign agreements with the utility.
“This government is not respecting their right to freely associate,” said Core, who attended the legislative session in Winnipeg yesterday.
“We’ve been doing this for quite a few years and I haven’t seen it go to this extent before…. A crown corporation, under an NDP government supported by unions and people working together … refuse to work with this group of landowners.”
Manitoba Hydro has reached agreements for the Bipole III right of way with landowners in other regions of the province. The boilerplate agreements provide one-time payments for easements and compensation for the towers built on privately held land.
Manitoba Hydro has said the compensation package is generous and it’s not interested in negotiating a separate deal with a group of farmers.
The Manitoba Bipole Landowners Committee opposes the one time payment model. They prefer annual payments for the right of way and want language in the agreement that protects the biosecurity of cropland.
Contact robert.arnason@producer.com
