The major flooding of 2011-2012 was the worst in Manitoba’s history. Because it undermined the province’s finances, it has made it extremely difficult for the province the balance the budget. One of the major proposals is to build a Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin outlet. However, this would run through the traditional lands of four First Nations whose concerns about previous flood control infrastructure have been neglected. The Federal government has committed $248 million towards the project.

Promises $10 billion in new infrastructure spending by the end of 2022, some of which will be aimed at increasing flood protections, as well as fixing and building roads and bridges such as Highway 75 to make them more flood-resistant. (3, 5) Launched extensive investigation into flood prevention; the final report recommends around $1 billion in options, though it has not been implemented. (1) Pledges to work with First Nations communities to build flood outlets for Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin. (5) Pledges to increase flood protection in Brandon and has begun doing so. (1, 5) Has stated that its PST increase from 7% to 8% was, in part, to help fund additional flood protections. (1, 2)	Pledges to prioritize and build an outlet to Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin, to be finished in the by the end of their first term in office – faster than any other party has committed to doing so. (1, 3, 4, 6) Will implement a new watershed-based planning system to ensure there is no net loss of water-retention capacity in watersheds. (4)	Pledges to build a Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlet, but only after the budget is balanced (1, 7)	Pledges to alter the rules around farmland drainage, which leads to flooding. Would allow farmers to move ponds and wetlands for farming but require that the water be retained; would end all drainage subsidies; and would provide tax incentives for the replacement of natural water retention capacity. (8) Plans to prohibit further wetland drainage on government-owned wetlands and ensure their protection. (8)

References

1. Winnipeg Free Press
2. CBC
3. CTV Winnipeg
4. Progressive Conservative Platform
5. CBC
6. CBC
7. Liberal Website
8. Green Party Platform