Springfield candidates line up against Sio Silica mine

Candidates for mayor and council in the rural municipality of Springfield, just east of Winnipeg, say they oppose Sio Silica’s renewed bid to drill into a sandstone aquifer that supplies drinking water, making the proposal the dominant issue before Manitoba’s municipal elections on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Every candidate who spoke to CBC News for a story published Friday, Oct. 23, said they could not support the project as proposed. The municipality has about 17,500 residents on farms, acreages and in communities such as Dugald, Anola and Oakbank. Manitoba’s general municipal election is held on the fourth Wednesday of October, the provincial government says.

The Alberta-based company filed a second environmental licence application with the province earlier this year, promising to drill fewer wells at first over a smaller area. Manitoba rejected its first proposal in 2024, saying the company had to show with science that drilling into the aquifer would not harm drinking water quality or cause underground collapses.

“Everybody has the same thoughts, no matter if you’re working on a farm at home or if you’re driving to Winnipeg. We must protect our water, and without water, what do we have?” said Georgina Mustard, a Ward 4 council candidate who lives next to land set aside for a sand-processing plant. Her opponent, Adrian Brown, called the plan “experimental” and said it could not be allowed in its current form.

The race to replace outgoing mayor Patrick Therrien is open. Mayoral candidate Margaret Marion-Akins said the last council was too willing to host a processing plant near Vivian. Melinda Warren, a member of the outgoing council, said, “We won’t support something that’s not proven.” Edwin Giesbrecht said in a statement that he wants assurances backed by independent science before he could support it. A fourth candidate, Daniel Page, did not respond to CBC’s requests.

Sio Silica president Carla Devlin said the company is not commenting during the election. A spokesperson for Environment Minister Mike Moyes also declined to comment, citing the campaign. Tangi Bell, who chairs the opposition group Our Line In The Sand, said the group is not endorsing candidates.

For more from smaller communities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, see our Prairie towns page and our politics coverage.

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