The future of the Municipality of West-Interlake is still unknown, despite meetings between provincial officials, the municipal Council, and the West-Interlake Citizens Group (WICG). The citizen's group has been calling for the municipality to be dissolved, with the intention of restoring the area to its former state - the RMs of Eriksdale, and Siglunes. A Municipal Board hearing on the matter was held in May, but after three hours and no shortage of confusion, the Board decided to adjourn without a solution in place, recommending both parties meet with the province before reconvening the hearing.

The result of that meeting wasn't what either side had hoped for, but for the West-Interlake Citizens Group, it finally provided them an opportunity to meet with provincial representatives, something they'd been calling for since the beginning of the process. WICG spokesperson Andrea Sweetland says that meeting went pretty much as expected, but doesn't feel it will lead to any results quickly. However, a few weeks before last week's meeting, Sweetland says the group met with Indigenous and Municipal Affairs Minister Eileen Clarke, a meeting Sweetland says seemed productive.

"A lot of our information, we felt, hadn't been getting to the minister. We did have a meeting with her and she's committed to listening and trying to help. As to what that is, she didn't make any rash promises or anything, but having someone that actually listens really makes a big difference."

The municipality and the citizens group want to see the amalgamation reversed, but the battle continues over the best process to achieve that. The WICG wants to see the municipality dissolved, and the two former municipalities reinstated, while the municipality and deputy minister fear that would leave the area as unorganized territory. Instead, the municipality wants to find another way to split the two wards, without dissolving the local government.

The call for dissolution has largely been coming from Ward 1, the former RM of Eriksdale. West-Interlake's Council previously investigated the option of annexing the ward to another municipality, but no willing partners could be found. Sweetland says the group is willing to look at other options to restore the boundaries but doesn't want any measures to be taken without consulting the citizens the change will impact.

While she notes they also don't want to see the area become unorganized territory, she says dissolution appeared to be the only way to pursue their goal under the municipal act. That hearing can only be reconvened if the WICG continues their call for dissolution. If another option is brought forward that the citizens group feels is viable, they can cancel the municipal board hearing.

"If nothing happens between now and then, that's exactly what we'll do. We'll ask (the Municipal Board) to reconvene and hear it."

She hopes these recent meetings will help ensure a solution comes forward but notes they're going to be working to keep the pressure on the province and the municipality.