Greg Selinger

 

Premier Greg Selinger has put the federal government on alert over the potential for major spring flooding.
Selinger spoke with Prime Minister Stephen Harper about the likely need for additional resources to protect communities and to assist in damage clean up.



Selinger says heavy rains in summer and fall have created very high moisture levels in the ground. Southern Manitoba has already seen more than two-thirds of the total snow that fell last winter.


Meanwhile, the province remains committed to raising Highway 75 to the same level as Interstate 29 in North Dakota. Premier Selinger says Highway 75 is a key trade artery for Manitoba and keeping it out of water during floods is a priority for his government. He says however, it's not easily solved.



Key to the project is a hydrology study which was initiated in spring and should be completed by spring of 2011.


In other news, the province is proposing legislation that would give new Canadians time off work to attend their Canadian citizenship ceremonies. Premier Selinger says about 4,500 immigrants a year are sworn in as Canadian citizens in Manitoba. He says the proposed legislation recognizes the significance of this occasion.



Under the proposed legislation, new Canadians would have the right to ask their employer for 4 hours off work to attend their citizenship ceremony. The request would have to be made at least 14 days before the event.