Referendum shows overwhelming opposition to Sio Silica mining

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This article was published 22/09/2023 (594 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A referendum organized by a pair of RM of Springfield councillors returned a clear verdict.

Coun. Mark Miller and Coun. Andy Kuczynski, long time opponents of Sio Silica’s plan to mine silica sand through the aquifer, hosted what they called a referendum to gauge public support.

The call-in survey, which carries no official standing, was advertised throughout the RM of Springfield.

The two councillors hosted a press conference in front of the RM of Springfield municipal office in Oakbank on Tuesday, where surrounded by close to 50 supporters they announced the results.

A total of 4,581 people voted against the Sio Silica proposal while 171 voted for it.

That’s a 96.4 percent total for the ‘no’ camp.

Miller said that kind of response is unprecedented in any poll, referendum, or plebiscite.

“It was a free and open referendum,” Miller said. “There was nothing biased about it and the results are absolutely outstanding.”

Both councillors campaigned on a platform to protect the aquifer but stand alone on council in their opposition to Sio Silica who’s proposing to drill 7,200 wells in southeast Manitoba over 24 years to extract up to 33 million tonnes of silica sand from about 50 metres below the surface.

That plan has put them at odds with environmental groups and citizens groups who say the plan is not proven to be safe and endangers the largest and purist aquifer in Manitoba, one that supplies the entire Southeast with water.

Miller said it’s time those in power sit up and take notice of the opposition.

“Every provincial candidate in southeastern Manitoba better have their ears open, because if they don’t reflect and respect the opinion of people in our community than are they serving a different purpose? Are they serving a different agenda?” he questioned. “This water is precious. It’s our lifeblood for our community.”

The phone survey asked people to press the corresponding number to show their support or opposition to “Sio Silica mining in our aquifer”.

Organized in part by the Springfield Taxpayers Rights Corp. four scrutineers were also chosen to ensure the integrity of the process.

Allan Akins, a director of the group, said while they didn’t exclude people from voting from outside the RM, they anticipate most of the votes were from the RM of Springfield.

“I would say though from all our canvassing with some clarity, almost everyone in our community knew about it and those that were passionate or sincere either way voted.”

He said the scrutineers are “well known members of our community and the RM of Springfield” asking them to put up their hands. All of them were in the group supporting the fight against Sio Silica.

The results did eliminate calls from duplicate numbers.

Andy Kuczynski told those gathered that this isn’t just about current residents.

“We want to protect our water and our aquifer for us and for future generations to come,” he said.

Miller said this doesn’t mark the end of their campaign.

They will provide the results to Springfield council, councils across southern Manitoba and issue letters to provincial politicians, candidates and to Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid who is the special advisor on water.

They’re also gearing up for the municipal board hearings that have yet to be announced, to deal with the development agreement.

“We want to make sure that every element of that development agreement has protection for the residents of Springfield and southeastern Manitoba,” Miller said. “I think we need to ensure that if something happens to our aquifer that this company should be held responsible through their own private insurance.”

Miller added that they are extending an olive branch to Mayor Patrick Therrien, and councillors Glen Fuhl and Melinda Warren, urging them to come on side.

Mayor Patrick Therrien was hesitant to comment on the validity of the referendum and would not say if he believes that 96.4 percent of RM of Springfield residents are opposed to mining. “It creates more questions than answers for me,” he said, without going into detail on the questions it raises.

He did reiterate that the referendum had nothing to do with council.

“This is not condoned or authorized by council or the R.M. of Springfield,” he said, adding the idea of a referendum was discussed at the council table but ultimately dismissed. “We felt that we didn’t want to go through with a referendum.”

Therrien added that he was pleased to see the results will be forwarded to the provincial government who must ultimately make the decision.

“Now it’s up to the government to decide,” he said.

Sio Silica COO Brent Bullen did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Springfield-Ritchot PC incumbent Ron Schuler also took criticism from the crowd at the press conference.

“We don’t know which way he stands,” Kuczynski admitted. “We didn’t speak with him because you know, we can never meet him, and he never shows up to our meetings, so we don’t know really what he thinks.”

At a recent environmental debate in Winnipeg only the Green and Liberal parties said they would stop the process.

Others spoke out from the crowd as well with Georgina Mustard stepping up to pledge her opposition to the mining plan.

“I’m 100 percent against this project and after the results of this vote we now know the majority agrees,” she said, adding there is no proof the water would remain safe.