The Reeve of Hanover says they have been informed that maintenance work along the Manning Canal is temporarily on hold.

Stan Toews says of all the drains running through Hanover, the Manning Canal is their highest priority in terms of ones needing some repairs. He says it is an old drain, probably at least fifty years of age. The walls are slumping and it needs some work.

Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen has informed both the Rural Municipality of Hanover and the Rural Municipality of Tache that maintenance work as part of their Water Capital program was scheduled for this fiscal year. However, as departmental staff began the maintenance enhancement project it was determined the project objectives could not be accomplished without major reconstruction including land acquisition and other activities that were not envisioned at first.

In a letter to both municipalities, Pedersen explains that due to the greater scope and complexity of this project, and the substantially increased funding required, the overall project will need to be considered in the development of future Water Capital programs. Construction is now tentatively scheduled to begin in the 2017/18 fiscal year. However, depending on overall provincial priorities and funding levels, the project will need to be phased in over a number of years to complete.

The work had started in the Rural Municipality of Tache at the mouth of the Seine River Diversion. 

"As long as they are working, it's good," says Toews. "Then hopefully it gets closer every year."

Pedersen says Manitoba Infrastructure will continue to maintain the drain in the interim with annual maintenance activities such as mowing and minor clean-outs.

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