Springfield mayor calls councillor-run independent meeting ‘confusing’ for residents

Springfield’s mayor called a public meeting in Cook’s Creek last week that was attended by all four councillors, not “helpful,” after the municipality said the event wasn’t sanctioned.

The Oct. 22 meeting at Cook’s Creek Community Centre, which drew nearly 300 people, was organized by Springfield councillors Mark Miller and Andy Kuczynski. Labeled as a public engagement forum, the meeting discussed Sio Silica’s proposed silica sand mining project and the Winnipeg Metro Region’s now-halted Plan 20-50. The next day, the rural municipality issued a statement, saying the forum “was not an official event of council” and doesn’t represent the views of the entire council.

Springfield Mayor Patrick Therrien said the statement was made because residents were thinking the rural municipality was running the event.

“Going through town here, I’m very visible, and in the RM of Springfield, I had people approaching me on this,” he said. People were just curious about what it was all about, and I had to tell them that this isn’t a sanctioned RM of Springfield event.”

The notice wasn’t the first time Therrien had to clarify the difference between official municipal events and non-sanctioned meetings, he said.

He said events like the independent open house don’t help council operate effectively, especially when its “confusing the public.” People shouldn’t have to worry about whether a sign is from the rural municipality or not, Therrien said.

He didn’t comment on the two councillors hosting the independent event.

Miller was frustrated when he saw the statement in response to the meeting. He said Springfield doesn’t host enough open houses and doesn’t engage enough with residents. Miller views hosting the meeting as filling that gap.

“We believe we ought to be doing this actively and definitely continuously throughout our term on council,” he said, noting that last week’s meeting was the fourth they’ve held.

He said the meeting had multiple speakers sharing information on both Sio Silica and Plan 20-50.

In August, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation turned down a partnership with Sio Silica, after a band referendum was held. Sio Silica hasn’t shelved its mining project and applied a second time for a provincial environmental licence on Tuesday, according to Manitoba’s environment and climate change deparment’s public registry. Its first attempt was denied in February 2024.

Work on Plan 20-50 stopped in December 2024 when the Winnipeg Metro Region voted to end public hearings.

Miller said Carla Devlin, president of Sio Silica and the mayor of East St Paul, was at the meeting and answered one question.

Councillors Melinda Warren and Glen Fuhl attended the meeting, after being invited by Miller and Kuczynski.

Warren said she was present because she wanted to hear from Ken Drysdale, a self-proclaimed expert on the Winnipeg Metro Region and its now-halted Plan 20-50.

This is the second time she’s gone to one of Miller and Kucznyski’s meetings, Warren said, adding she was there only to listen and observe.

“People have lots of concerns, and you take all that information back. So that’s what I did,” she said.