Vivian Sand Extraction Project Licence Application Not Approved!

The Government of Manitoba has rejected the proposed Environment Act licence application for Sio Silica’s Vivian Sand Extraction Project. This decision is a victory for safe drinking water, science, and common sense. Manitoba Eco-Network (MbEN) and Our Line in the Sand (OLS) commend Manitoba for heeding community concerns and scientific evidence, as highlighted in last year’s Clean Environment Commission (CEC) hearing. The CEC report identified too many unanswered questions to approve Sio Silica’s proposal. The Manitoba Eco-Network has emphasized that the project never made sense for the region or Manitoba. While celebrating the decision, MbEN and OLS acknowledge the community’s years of stress and frustration due to information gaps in the project proposal. We stress the need to improve Manitoba’s environmental assessment process for better decision-making, emphasizing meaningful public engagement and support for citizens protecting their homes and livelihoods. MbEN and OLS express gratitude to community members, volunteers, legal teams, independent experts, and the CEC for their dedication to environmental protection in Manitoba. You can read a full statement here.

Discussions on Critical Minerals are more relevant than ever. The Manitoba Eco-Network is hosting a webinar on what’s next for Manitoba in Mining and Critical Minerals on February 20th. The webinar is free to all and you can register here.

The Manitoba Eco-Network would like to thank community members, volunteers, legal teams, and independent experts for their dedication to environmental protection in Manitoba. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you goes out to our generous donors whose support enables vital work like this. Please consider supporting our ongoing work and contribute to the protection of our environment and communities.