Floodway expansion 'big mistake' says prof

Manitoba is making a big mistake by deciding to expand the Red River Floodway. That's the opinion of a University of Manitoba professor and hydraulics expert, who's pushing for the construction of a new facility at Ste. Agathe that would hold back and control flood water.

Engineer Jay Doering says the Ste. Agathe plan would cost $475 million, compared to $750 million for a bigger floodway. And he says it would also provide better flood protection for everyone.

"Expanding the floodway doesn't make sense on either technical, social or economic grounds. An expanded floodway can also cause artificial flooding both upstream and downstream. An expanded floodway costs 1 times the Ste. Agathe option, so in committing $40 million in yesterday's budget to expand the floodway, the province essentially wants Manitobans to pay more for less protection."

Premier Gary Doer says both he and federal MP Ron Duhamel are opposed to the Ste. Agathe plan because of the flood risk to southern Manitoba. Doer says expanding the floodway will provide the best balance of protection for all Manitobans.

Yesterday's provincial budget allocated $40 million to expanding the floodway and $25 million for rural measures. Doer says flood protection is the main reason for increased government spending this year.