Hearings are being held in different communities in the Southeast that are affected by the proposed route for MB Hydro's Manitoba/Minnesota Transmission Project.

A group of landowners called the South East Stakeholders Coalition, have come together to bring their concerns to the hearings held by the Clean Environment Commission. Scott Blonski is a landowner from Tache, he says his main concern is Hydro's lack of transparency and honesty in telling the public what's going on and why the line is routed where it is.

The Coalition has Lawyer Kevin Toyne representing them at the hearings which began on May 8 and will continue through to June 8. Toyne says some of the main concerns of landowners are; how it will affect their use of the land, electromagnetic fields, noise, a decrease in property values, and a disrupted view of their natural environment.

Toyne says the project affects approximately 126 private landowners and a number of residences very close to the proposed right of way.

The coalition feels the route selected by Hydro was done by using a flawed process and because they failed to take into account a number of factors that are important to the coalition. The also feel Hydro shouldn't be allowed to go ahead with the current route.

Toyne says, "We are proposing a different route that's a bit further east that will put the line into an area where fewer people would be directly affected by it. Once the commission has done their work, it's up to the Minister of Sustainable Development and potentially the Provincial Cabinet to decide if the line goes ahead where it's currently planned, or if it will be shifted along the lines of what the coalition has suggested."

La Broquerie coalition member and landowner Monique Bedard, says the 500 kilovolt-ampere line will be 200 feet tall and will be built about 350 feet from her newly built home. "That's higher than a silo, which changes the landscape, and we are very concerned about our land value going down. We hope that after all the evidence is seen and testimonies have been heard by the CEC, they will recommend this line will be moved eastward, away from towns, communities, farms, basically away from people."

Tache landowner Scott Blonski, says he is concerned that Hydro isn't being transparent and honest with their intentions, and they need to be clear with the public as to why the line is routed where it is.

Hearings will be held in La Broquerie on Thursday, May 25 and Saturday, May 27.

Read More: Manitoba/Minnesota Hydro Route To Undergo CEC Review

La Broquerie Resident Feels Bullied By Manitoba Hydro

Reeve of La Broquerie Reacts To Transmission Line Route

Smook Urges Persistence Regarding Hydro Line Route