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Local reeve speaks with Prime Minister

Residents of rural Manitoba sometimes feel their issues are lost on the rest of the province. So, it was a pleasant surprise to Rick Plaisier, Reeve of the R.M. of Sifton, to speak with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Sifton Reeve Rick Plaisier
Sifton Reeve Rick Plaisier had the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister Stephen Harper while he was in Winnipeg to release the Federal Budget in early May. Photo/Submitted

Residents of rural Manitoba sometimes feel their issues are lost on the rest of the province. So, it was a pleasant surprise to Rick Plaisier, Reeve of the R.M. of Sifton, to speak with Prime Minister
Stephen Harper.

Plaisier attended the unveiling of the Federal Budget this spring, held at Victoria Inn, Winnipeg.

Over 250 people attended.

The federal government is a partner with the province in supplying disaster financial relief, Plaisier explains. The Prime Minister was apparently already aware of the flooding and water
damage in Westman in recent years.

“I wanted an opportunity to meet with him regarding floods and mitigation projects. He seemed to know who I was and where I came from. I was very impressed,”
said the reeve, crediting Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire with keeping western Manitoba’s issues in front of parliament.

“I just asked if I could talk to [Harper] for a few minutes. He was approachable and knew his facts - I was ready to give him the lowdown. He seemed to know about it - it was a brief meeting.”

Plaisier sits as Chair of the Southwest Flood Strategy committee. He termed a recent press release from Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton as “good news”, saying that it does support some of their flood concerns.

The Southwest Flood Strategy Committee is still active as a steering committee. “We were quite pleased to see this and to hear they are looking at some situations where they can prevent
the damage in the future,” said Sifton’s reeve.

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