The province is currently reviewing the Clean Environment Commission's report on the proposed Sio Silica sand extraction operation.
Following a lengthy study and a number of public hearings, the Clean Environment Commission released a 105-page report on Friday, June 23rd. The report recommended a long list of conditions be required if the Manitoba Government were to approve the silica sand operation.
Minister of Environment and Climate Kevin Klein says the report was released to the public shortly after it was finished. He notes this was key.
“I want to share with you how important it was to not only myself but really to our Premier Heather Stephenson that this report went public as quickly as possible.” He adds “We understand the community’s concerns. We understand that there's a lot of attention being directed towards this license application, and we thought it was important to get all the information out there.”
Having read through the report, Klein says he was pleased with how thorough it was and believes it is fair and reasonable.
The Clean Environment Commission’s report is now being handed to provincial staff. He notes the review and decision process will not be rushed.
"We have environmental experts and our own environmental technical people that will be reviewing this. Time is not really our concern. Our concern is that we do a thorough review and that our staff have the ability to do all the due diligence required. So, we're not going to put a timeline on it.”
Klein notes he wants to ensure that the technical experts have the ability and opportunity to do their work with integrity. He notes, ultimately, it will be the experts that make the final decision.
“I've heard a lot of media organizations say that the decision is on my desk. That is false. I'm not the person that will make this decision, that will be made by the staff that we've hired that are all highly trained in the environmental licensing field. They've done this for many years and they will review the report and they will make their decisions once all that work is completed.”
A number of other factors such as the indigenous consulting they have done will also influence the province’s decision.
Klein adds “This is not a decision that's made politically. Our premier is dedicated to letting science make this decision and making sure that the staff have the ability to do their work to the fullest extent. I want to assure everybody drinking water is of paramount importance to all of us.”