The House of Commons has unanimously called for a delay in the Devils Lake diversion plan until an independent review is completed and the Manitoba water system is protected from pollution from water diverted northward.
The unusual unanimous vote was triggered late June 23 by Winnipeg New Democrat Bill Blaikie, seconded by an MP from each of the other three parties in the Commons.
By a voice vote, MPs agreed: “That this House unanimously request the United States to immediately agree to undertake an independent, time-limited, binational scientific assessment of North Dakota’s proposed Devils Lake diversion in a manner that is consistent with the Boundary Waters Treaty and the role of the International Joint Commission and that, pending completion of this assessment and implementation of measures to mitigate risks of invasive species and to water quality, the outlet would not operate.”
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Manitoba officials fear that if water is diverted from the lake to get its water levels down, it will send pollution and fish parasites into Manitoba waters and harm the fishing industry.
The bipartisan resolution was in sharp contrast to political bickering that broke out late on the night of June 21 during an emergency debate on the Devils Lake issue triggered by Winnipeg Conservative MP Joy Smith.
She and other Conservatives used the debate to accuse the Liberals of mishandling the file, including a refusal in 2002 to take up an American offer to refer a different North Dakota water diversion project to the IJC.
She criticized the government for claiming that the diversion is being delayed beyond the scheduled July 1 start because prime minister Paul Martin had called president George Bush and asked him to intervene.
The governor of North Dakota maintains only bad weather is holding up the project.
Liberal and New Democrat MPs criticized the Conservatives for being negative, for falsely implying that Canada passed up a chance to go to the IJC and for not presenting a united face to the Americans.
“I just had this sinking feeling as I sat here tonight that this is why I sometimes just hate politics,” said Blaikie, a 26-year veteran of Parliament. “What should have happened here tonight initially was an opportunity, an emergency debate, a good idea gone bad. … .”
His motion two days later, after negotiations among the parties, brought the united voice he was advocating.
