Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
A major fuel spill is causing major concerns for residents just south of Quesnel city limits. According to the Lhtako Dene Nation 110,000 litres of fuel may have spilled underground from the Lhtako Gas and Convenience Store from December 2020 until June 2022 when the leak was discovered. The details of the spill only came public in early April 2023 after a news release was issued by the nation.
The Government of Manitoba has launched public engagement on its first ever water strategy action plan. “We’re inviting all Manitobans to provide feedback and help identify the priorities for our province’s first water management strategy action plan,” said Minister of Environment, Climate and Parks Jeff Wharton in a news release. To access the survey, go to https://engagemb.ca/water-strategy. The survey will close on February 15, 2023. The water strategy action plan is expected for release in spring, 2023, according to the release.
Nunavut's government says it has made several improvements to a fuel system in Rankin Inlet to make sure it doesn't have another spill like the one in 2020 that cost the territory $100,000 in federal fines. On Friday, the government issued a news release with details on the outcome of an 18,400-litre diesel fuel spill at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik High School in April 2020.
A boil water advisory has been issued for Kenora, Ont., residents who are north of the Canadian Pacific Railway and consume water from the city's water distribution system. According to a news release, the boil water advisory, which came into effect on Tuesday, is due to a major water main break, which has made it so the safety of the drinking water cannot be guaranteed.
Manitoba Hydro's wish for a five per cent electricity rate increase did not come true this year. The Public Utilities Board, which oversees utilities, approved a 3.6 per cent interim rate increase beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The increase expires Nov. 15, 2022, barring a subsequent successful rate hike application by Manitoba Hydro. "This increase recognizes the financial consequences of the drought experienced in Manitoba in 2021 and the board's objective to avoid rate shock by smoothing the rate increases to customers required to address the costs of major capital projects entering service," the board wrote in a press release.
Saskatoon officials say a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared among a group of water and sewer maintenance crews. The city says in a news release that it recently received confirmation from the Saskatchewan Health Authority about the outbreak in a city work group at a facility at 88 King St. It says the facility is only accessible by employees. The release says the city does not expect that there will be an impact to operations.
