Decision on possible search for remains at Manitoba landfill coming 'very shortly': federal minister - Action News
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Manitoba

Decision on possible search for remains at Manitoba landfill coming 'very shortly': federal minister

The federal government will soon decide whether it will commit to searching a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Friday.

Politicization of landfill search during Manitoba's election campaign 'deeply offensive,' says Anandasangaree

A man wearing a suit jacket stands in front of a row of teepees.
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the federal government is willing to support a search, but the province needs to come to the table too. (CBC)

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

The federal government will soon decide whether it will commit to supporting asearch ata Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women, the minister for Crown-Indigenous relations says while also calling politicization of the issue during Manitoba's election campaign "deeply offensive and deeply troubling."

"We will make a decision very shortly" on a potential search, Gary Anandasangareetold CBC in Toronto onFriday.

"I'm committed to continuing this conversation."

Calls have been growing across the country to search the privately owned Prairie Green landfillfor the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran two First Nations women suspected to have been victims of an alleged serial killer.

Police believe their remains were taken to the landfill, just north of Winnipeg, last year.

The Manitoba government has stood firm on its refusal to support a search at Prairie Green. In July, Premier Heather Stefanson whose Progressive Conservative Party is seeking a third consecutive term in Tuesday's provincial election said a search would be too dangerous for workers, and that there was no guarantee it would result in finding the women's remains.

An aerial photo shows waste at a landfill surrounded by farm fields.
A July aerial photo shows the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg. Winnipeg police have said they believe the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran were taken there last year. (Jaison Empson/CBC)

A feasibilityreport completed earlier this year concluded a successful search is possible, but could take up to three years and cost up to $184 million.

Anandasangaree said the federal Liberal government is willing to support a search, but the province would have to get on board too.

"[The] federal government is here for the long run, and we invite the province of Manitoba to do the same," he said.

"We're not having a mature conversation with the different levels of government on how to get to the right place. We need all governments to be at the table."

Anandasangaree has met twice with the families of Harrisand Myransince he was sworn in as minister in July including a meeting on Sept. 18, an International Day of Action to Search the Landfills organized by the families and supporters.

Cambria Harrris, Morgan Harris' daughter, said she walked out of that meetingin Ottawa after the government didn't firmly commit to a search.

"I recognize how frustrating that may be, but unfortunately we were not able to have clarity at that meeting," Anandasangaree said Friday.

'Deeply hurtful to the families'

The question of the landfill search has also come up in Manitoba's provincial election campaign.

The Progressive Conservatives have been actively campaigning on their opposition to a search, taking out a full-page ad in last Saturday's Winnipeg Free Press that highlighted the party's stance.

The ad included a photo of Stefanson, with the quote,"For health and safety reasons, the answer on the landfill dig just has to be no."

An ad with Heather Stefanson's image and the words
A portion of a Progressive Conservative advertisement that ran in the Winnipeg Free Press last Saturday. (Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba)

Anandasangareesaid it "is deeply offensive and deeply troubling and deeply hurtful to the families to have this politicized in such a way that re-traumatizes the family members and the community."

"I don't think this is acceptable in a political discourse."

A supporter for the Harris and Myran families said Wednesday that the ad, along with Stefanson's ongoing refusal to fund a search, is what led to a new blockade in front of another landfill.

Protestersblocked off the entrance road to the Brady Road landfill, a city-owned facility in south Winnipeg, on Wednesday, demanding a search at the Prairie Green landfill.

An earlier barricade at Brady Road was dismantled on July 18.

People stand on a road. One person hold an
A new protest blockade, demanding a search of the Prairie Green landfill, went up at the Brady Road landfill in south Winnipeg on Wednesday. (Ian Froese/CBC)

Anandasangaree said it's ultimately up for Manitobans to decide how to move forward.

"It is something that is deeply troubling when this issue is politicized during a campaign, and I will leave it to the people of Manitoba to decide what those options are."

The provincial election is Oct. 3.


Support is available for anyone affected by these reports. You can talk to a mental health professional viaWellness Together Canadaby calling 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to686868 for youth or 741741 for adults. It is free and confidential.

As well, a national Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour service at 1-866-925-4419.

Mental health counselling and crisis support is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 orby online chat.

With files from Olivia Stefanovich