The controversial Wikileaks organization released over 3,500 new documents on Thursday, including a large number of reports and releases from the American Embassy in Ottawa.
Of the estimated 3,500 new documents released were at least 12 reports that mention Manitoba specifically, touching on cross-border issues of electricity deals, commentary on the outcome of provincial elections and budgets, and mention of Winnipeg’s new Canadian Human Rights Museum.
Wikileaks documents contain unedited and often unvarnished communications between officials from the American Embassy in Ottawa and various governmental departments. Calls to the American Embassy in Ottawa to confirm the veracity of the reports were not returned.
HYDRO
One report, “Manitoba: New Electricity Options,” dated February 11, 2003 outlines the potential sale of electricity from Manitoba to the U.S. Midwest.
“The Province of Manitoba and its state-owned hydroelectricity utility, Manitoba Hydro, seek to greatly expand hydroelectricity exports to the United States from the already considerable level of 8.8 terawatt hours, with a value of $495 million per anum,” the report reads, “Officials estimate that an additional 5000 mw of electricity – equal to its total existing capacity – could be developed in Manitoba without significant local political, legal or social disruption.”
While the report identifies a number of barriers to the deal, the lack of a east-west transmission line is cited as the biggest obstacle. The report concludes by saying that if American utilities fail to find a way to access Manitoba’s “abundant and inexpensive electricity,” it may end up in the “Canadian heartland of Ontario where the appetite is equally large.”
In a section titled “Environmental Concerns Are Muted,” the report states that “(former) Manitoba Energy Minister (Tim) Sale admitted to us that the hydro-electric generating facilities constructed in the 1960s were built too big and caused extensive environmental damage to traditional Indian hunting and fishing grounds in northern Manitoba.”
A subsequent document released on the same topic over five years later (April 21, 2008), “Manitoba Hydro Announces Electricity Deal with Wisconsin,” outlines the details of a 15-year agreement that is expected to generate $2 billion for Manitoba Hydro starting in 2018. It also states that electricity exports generated $592 million in revenue for Manitoba Hydro in 2007, and projected earnings at $5.5 billion over the next ten years, adding that electricity exports accounted for 40 per cent of Manitoba Hydro’s revenues in 2008. The report speculates that the deal “virtually guarantees” the construction of the 600 mw Gull Lake and 1250 mw Conawapa generating stations in Northern Manitoba, adding that construction on the 200 mw Wuskwatim project had been “troubled by cost overruns, a labor shortage, and difficulties in finding a willing builder.” The report goes on to advise that the U.S. Commercial Service may wish to make interested parties aware of the opportunities that will soon be available in Manitoba, and expresses surprise that Manitoba Hydro decided to make inroads into American markets, rather than work with the neighbouring province of Ontario.
POLITICS
In the “Manitoba Budget “˜Steady as she goes’ again” report dated April 29, 2003, the provincial budget is critiqued as being “cautious to a fault,” with specific mention of “Manitoba’s meager – and largely symbolic – tax reductions” that have failed to keep pace with reductions throughout the country. The report goes on to say that the lack of tax reductions may be “feeding fears in the Manitoba business community that Manitoba is no longer competitive with other Canadian provinces, much less bordering States.”
The report also states that: “The NDP continued the tradition they began in last year’s budget of raiding the revenues of the publicly owned electric utility, Manitoba Hydro, for C$52 million to help balance the books,” adding that the Provincial government collected $365 million in fees and charges from Manitoba Hydro.
Shortly after, on May 9, 2003, Manitoba’s provincial political system is explained in another document titled, “Canada: Manitobans Go To The Polls June 3.” The document states that NDP support is stronger is northern Manitoba, “less affluent areas with a high rate of labor union membership,” while PC (Conservatives) are favoured in agricultural southern Manitoba and Winnipeg’s southern and western suburbs, which have greater economic prosperity, adding that incumbent Premier “Gary Doer and his party hold a number of advantages that make them virtually unbeatable,” while calling Liberal candidate Jon Gerrard’s campaign “quixotic.” The report concludes with a prediction that the NDP will be re-elected, going on to say that this outcome would not alter Manitoba’s ties with neighbouring U.S. states, but would strengthen Canadian efforts to quash alleviation of North Dakota’s Devils Lake flooding via diversion into the Red River.”
After the Provincial election, another document titled, “Canada Provincial Election: Manitoba Re-Elects New Democratic Party (NDP)”, was released on June 10, 2003. Within this document, it is noted that the Gary Doer was re-elected, as expected, though the election “registered relatively little enthusiasm among the Manitoba electorate.” They add that they expected little to change between the province and neighbouring States, noting that Doer “enjoys close personal relations with Ambassador Cellucci and the leaders of several states” and “He has been successful in quashing some of the anti-American rhetoric within the provincial party, and was visibly absent earlier this year when some of his Cabinet and Caucus joined protests opposing U.S. military action in Iraq.”
DEVILS LAKE
The issue of Manitoba’s issues with Devils Lake in North Dakota cropped up in two documents. The first, “Devils Lake: Manitoba Digs In Its Heels”, dated Februrary 9, 2005, outlines a meeting between former proponents of the American project and Manitoba Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton on February 3 and 4, 2005, right before officials and North Dakota were expected to begin moving water from Devils Lake to the Sheyenne River in July 2005. The report surmises that “Manitoban officials only paint a picture of increasing confrontation and retaliation, including lawsuits which could, in Ashton’s words, dwarf the cost the state and federal governments have already incurred as a result of the flooding.”
In a subsequent report dated July 8, 2005, “Ambassador Meets Manitoba Premier Gary Doer To Talk Devils Lake”, the meeting between former American Ambassador David Wilkins and former Premier Gary Doer is outlined. At the heart of this meeting was the “looming crisis” over Devils Lake, where Doer spoke passionately against the project, reiterating his position that “as soon as a single drop of water passes through the outlet then “˜the damage is done.’”
AMBASSADOR VISITS
Another more recent visit from the current American Ambassador David Jacobson in late October, 2009 is detailed in a report dated November 3, 2009: “Ambassador Jacobson’s Visit To Winnipeg, October 18 – 20.” This report details Jacobson’s participation in a variety of meetings and social events throughout Manitoba, which is described as, “occasionally the victim of an inferiority complex as the neighbor to richer Ontario.”
Jacobson’s visit took place just one day after Greg Selinger was elected, and after attending Selinger’s swearing-in ceremony, he also met with the new provincial leader during a “cordial and relaxed” meeting, where they addressed the “’little issues’ that sometimes sting the warm bilateral relationship.’”
Highlighted in this document is the progress on the Canadian Human Rights Museum, which is “experiencing serious cost overruns and the Board seeks an additional $45 million infusion.” Gail Asper, CEO of the project, also pitched the CMHR as an international destination and asked that Jacobson promote the museum when he meets Eastern premiers, issuing a “strong plea” for a Presidential endorsement and appearance at a Museum event.”
The report concludes that “The usual “˜irritants,’ inclusing Devils Lake, border delays, Buy America and COOL, were largely swept aside by a wave of goodwill,” and makes suggestions for destinations on future visits to Manitoba.
OTHER
Also included in Thursday’s Wikileaks dump were four more documents. One brief report outlines Manitoba Conservative leader Stuart Murray’s opposition to the freeze on beef imports in 2003 (“Manitoba Conservation Leader Registers Concern In BSE Crisis” dated June 19, 2003), while another one-page document summarizes a Manitoba trade mission in Los Angeles led by former Premier Gary Doer (“Manitoba Day In Los Angeles” dated July 7, 2003).
Another more detailed report from May 15, 2003, “Internet Pharmacies: Manitoba Leads The Way In Exports To The U.S.” comments that “Manitoba has become a hub for the growing cross-border trade in pharmaceuticals from Canada to the U.S.” It also notes that Manitoba’s “strong promotion of the industry is in stark contrast with the cautious approach taken by other provinces, especially Ontario.” It estimates that Manitoba internet pharmacies account for $225 million (USD) in online prescription drug sales to the U.S. from the previous year, and estimates there were 53 Manitoba companies and 2,000 jobs involved in this industry, with one company in particular, Canada Drugs, said to fill over 1,000 prescriptions per day.
Finally, one more Wikileaks report, “Trafficking In Persons In The Canadian Province of Manitoba – Aboriginal Populations Affected Disproportionately” dated July 17, 2009, marked "sensitive" dissects a conference hosted by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs from July 8 to 9, stating that “there is a verifiable problem, but participants spent more time looking for someone to blame than at possible solutions,” and adding that the event was a “good first start” at getting the issue out in the open.
The report also pointed out that “Social workers and others in aid agencies – who made up a majority of the 100 participants in the conference – also did not come in for any scrutiny, despite more than 70 per cent of prostituted youth being in care of child welfare agencies.”
Comments