COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – More concerns about Sio Silica

While I have always taken my role as the elected official for Dawson Trail very seriously and have always prioritized serving constituents over party politics, becoming an Independent has only strengthened my ability to continue doing so. My core values have not changed, but by removing partisan politics, it has opened the floor for me to have meaningful conversations directly with the ministers, which greatly benefits the residents of Dawson Trail, as I am able to provide them with the transparency they deserve, as well as ensure that their voices are being heard and their concerns are being addressed.

One such example is the Sio Silica Sands project. The proposed mining of silica sands by Sio Silica has been raised numerous times over the last few years, but it has become increasingly concerning as of late. In a recent interview with the president of Sio Silica, Carla Devlin stated that there is a 15 billion-tonne supply of silica sands in Manitoba, and they intend to drill all of it. Drilling will begin as soon as they receive approval on an environmental license.

The mining company has proposed drilling mines in southeastern Manitoba, in the RM of Springfield, to extract silica sand. The extracted sand can be used to produce solar panels, batteries, microchips, semiconductors, and Devlin states, it can even be used to aid in national defense. While this all sounds very positive, the health and environmental risks associated with the silica sand mines far outweigh the pros. Silica sand mining destroys ecosystems, causes air pollution, and threatens groundwater supply through the risk of contamination and depletion of aquifers. These health and environmental concerns are exactly why the project proposal was rejected by the provincial government in 2024.

I have contacted the minister’s office regarding the Sio Silica Sands project and the inevitable health and environmental risks associated with it. We must do everything we can to protect our environment so that we can continue living long, healthy, and safe lives. Therefore, I will continue to speak out and have these important conversations to ensure that people’s concerns are being heard and that the health and safety of Manitobans is not being compromised.

For more updates and information, visit my website at boblagasse.com. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my constituency office at ca.lagasse@outlook.com or 204-807-4663.