Springfield's Mayor Therrien calls out Councillor's Miller and Kuczynski for holding public information meeting.

Clipper Weekly editor Mark Buss sides with Mayor

The Facts Behind the October 22 Public Meeting & Mayor Therrien’s Pushback
 
When Leadership Turns to Damage Control - and Residents Push Back
On October 22, 300 residents packed the Cooks Creek Community Centre to capacity. They came to learn about 2 deeply important issues: Sio Silica’s renewed application threatening our aquifer and an update on the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR)’s Plan 20-50 and how Winnipeg will obtain control over Springfield’s land planning decisions. Residents also came because they are tired of decisions made without their consent. This meeting was proof that the people of Springfield are wide awake and watching.
 
Councillors Miller & Kuczynski had the courage to organize a Public Meeting so residents could finally hear the truth. For many, this was the first time they had heard unfiltered facts. It was democracy in action (held in Miller’s own Ward 3). Councillors Fuhl and Warren attended as invited guests. Mayor Therrien declined. Residents were clearly thankful for the opportunity to ask questions and learn more.
 
But the success of the Public Meeting clearly made some people nervous. The next day, an unsigned “official” Statement appeared on the RM of Springfield website, claiming the “community forum was not an official event of Council and was not sanctioned by the full Council.” There was no Council vote. No approval. No discussion. Yet the statement was released publicly, as if to discredit the councillors who dared to hold the meeting. Mayor Therrien, nor CAO Draper have the authority to act on their own and release official RM of Springfield documents. The statement further said, “The Council remains committed to transparent and inclusive engagement through communications, decisions and public open houses.” This was not transparency. This was damage control. The statement was posted on the RM’s Facebook page. Residents immediately saw it for what it was, an attempt to undermine and silence the voices of those who showed up and pushed back. “It felt like they were trying to tell us we shouldn’t have been there,” said one attendee.
 
In a surprising turn, The Clipper Weekly flatly refused to publish a summary of the meeting, even as a paid advertisement. The Clipper Weekly owner and publisher, Mark Buss, reportedly said it would not run “because the meeting was not sanctioned by Council.” When offered full payment to print it, the refusal still stood. Councillor Miller & Kuczynski’s statement was effectively censored by The Clipper Weekly. Meanwhile, Steinbach’s The Carillon accepted the same submission without hesitation. They even published their own article covering the event, including Mayor Therrien’s dismissive response that the Public Meeting was “confusing for residents.” The difference between the two papers couldn’t be clearer: one respects free speech; the other protects the powerful.
 
So, what’s really happening here? Why is Mayor Therrien and The Clipper Weekly so desperate to control the message? Why issue unauthorized statements, block communication, and prevent residents from hearing what Councillors Miller & Kuczynski have to say?
 
When pressed further, Mr. Buss stated, “this is my paper, and I’ll print whatever I want.” Councillors Miller and Kuczynski then sent their news release to other local media. To date, The Winnipeg Sun, CBC News and the Steinbach’s Carillon have now reported on the Public Meeting.
 
Mayor Therrien has agreed with the WMR to a rapid 200 residence per year expansion of
Springfield at existing taxpayers’ expense. The Water Treatment Plant, where all Springfield residents will pay for it rather than the developers, is an example of Mayor Therrien’s buy in to WMR Plan20-50. Our taxes will go up to parity with the City of Winnipeg and Springfield taxpayers will pay dearly for this for years to come.
 
The pro Sio Silica and pro WMR Plan20-50 sides may be getting worried that Springfield residents are beginning to wake up to the enormous changes that are being planned for them by outside forces.
 
Residents have a right to know what’s being planned for their community, before it’s too late.
 
The people of Springfield have spoken and they’re not going back to being quiet.

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Mayor Therrien’s public statement on RM Letterhead not endorsing Mark and Andy’s Meeting in Cooks Creek

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Joint Press Release by Andy Kucynski and Mark Miller

Public Forum Engages & Updates Residents on Sio Silica and WMR 

Nearly 300 Springfield Residents Attend Public Meeting Opposing Sio Silica and WMR 20-50

Cook’s Creek, Manitoba:  An estimated 300 concerned residents filled the Cook’s Creek Community Centre in a public engagement forum hosted by Springfield Councillors Andy Kuczynski and Mark Miller. It demonstrated a powerful community response to ongoing concerns about Sio Silica’s on-going proposed silica sand mining project and Springfield’s future within the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) including the shelved Plan 20-50 and Bill 4 going forward. 

Kuczynski and Miller were pleased to welcome political reps attending including NDP MLA Rachelle Schott, former MP/MLA Dr. Jon Gerrard and Manitoba Liberal Party Leader Willard Reaves, as well as, several past and current Springfield council and Sunrise SD trustees.

Georgina Mustard, a fourth-generation resident living next to the proposed mining site, delivered a moving personal testimony detailing the severe risk the proposed Sio Silica sand extraction potentially poses to the sensitive groundwater aquifer and generational farm land. Tangi Bell (Our Line in the Sand) highlighted the Ethics Commission findings against former PC Premier 
Stefanson and her PC Ministers with Sio and concerns on the Manitoba mining licencing process. 

Independent expert Ken Drysdale provided an overview of the WMR and their shelved 20-50 Plan, confirming that while the Region consists of Winnipeg and 17 municipalities, all votes are weighted by population, meaning the City of Winnipeg would maintain veto power over Springfield and capital regional land planning decisions. He clarified that municipalities may choose to opt out now and later opt back in after reviewing the updated WMR plan expected no later than January 2027. Opting out maybe the best strategic option to protect ones’ local autonomy. 

A pivotal moment occurred when a resident asked Sio Silica President Carla Devlin (also a general contractor/property developer and the Mayor of East St. Paul) whether the company would guarantee protection of Springfield’s drinking water and provide financial compensation if contamination occurred. Devlin did not provide a direct answer, referring only to future corporate “open houses.” 

Thankfully, the NDP government including Premier Kinew and then Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt, did not approve the Sio Silica license in 2024. However, it is anticipated a new Sio application maybe submitted in the new year and Miller and Kuczynski are aiming to be ready to review and challenge any application that may affect our water. 

Councillors Miller and Kuczynski further publicly committed to supporting Recall legislation, if re-elected, allowing residents to remove elected officials during their term. This is a unique political accountability and transparency tool currently in place within Alberta and British Columbia. 

“Springfield is a rural municipality with a distinct identity, not a suburb of Winnipeg,” said Councillor Kuczynski. “We are fighting to keep decision-making in the hands of local residents”. 

Mark Miller expressed “appreciation to the many volunteers and residents who sacrificed their evening to be part of this extraordinary evening of dialogue which helps shape our community”. Thanks to Ernie and Kiara Nathaniel (Interlace Media) and Dr. Daniel Page for video recording the event. The aim is to make this session content available on various social media platforms soon. 

Miller and Kuczynski committed to protecting water, southeast Manitoba’s aquifer, upholding public input between elections and offered to host additional public engagement forums to keep the people aware and to hear concerns and ideas from all residents.  

The meeting concluded with strong accolades of encouragement to the councillors for hosting the meeting and continued calls for protection of groundwater, farmland, and municipal independence. 

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Full length unedited video of Open House meeting

Winnipeg Metro Region (WMR) is again TRYING to take over Springfield to become a Suburb of Winnipeg

Springfield Community Update
October 2025📣

Important Public Town Hall Meeting
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 7:00 PM (doors open 6:30)
Location: Cooks Creek Community Centre
 Hosted by: Councillors Mark Miller & Andy Kuczynski

Springfield is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. But it is also a community at a crossroads. Important decisions are being made by Mayor Therrien and council that will affect our future — from the safety of our drinking water to the way our municipality is governed, to how much debt and taxes our residents will carry.

This Town Hall is an opportunity for all of us to come together, ask questions, and hear directly from experts and community leaders.

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🌊Presentation #1:
Protecting Springfield’s Water

Presentation #2:
Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR)

Speaker: Ken Drysdale, Independent Expert

Last year, more than 3,500 Springfield residents (98% of votes cast) said NO to the WMR Plan 20-50 — a plan that many believe threatens Springfield’s rural identity and local decision-making. Mayor Therrien refused to acknowledge the results! He did admit, on the record in Council, that 99% of the people he spoke to were against WMR. Yet, Mayor Therrien still plans for Springfield to join Plan 20-50!

Mr. Drysdale will explain:

• What WMR’s goals are
• Why Springfield’s autonomy and land use decisions are at risk
• What’s at stake if Springfield is forced into this regional framework

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❓Springfield Residents Need Answers:

• Mayor Therrien represents Springfield on the WMR and sits as one of only 10 directors of JohnQ, a company spun off from WMR. He refuses to brief Council or seek their input, claiming WMR meetings are confidential and declining to hold public “All Questions Answered” sessions.

• Therrien also became a JohnQ Director during the period when the company was linked in the news to large payouts to Tory organizer Marni Larkin. This coincided with Stefanson and PC Ministers’ attempts to pass legislation approving Sio Silica mining in Springfield’s aquifer — actions for which they were fined.

Key question: What responsibilities does Therrien hold as a JohnQ director?

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 ⚠️ Infrastructure & Debt Concerns
Property Taxes about to Skyrocket?

Council is considering major projects including a new water treatment plant and wastewater upgrades — with costs projected at up to $100 million. Plus the borrowing costs of interest payments over 20 years. Much of this debt would be carried by Springfield taxpayers. Over 20 years, 200 new small, serviced lots (serviced by municipal sewer & water) are planned per year for the Oakbank and Dugald corridors. Land zoning and planning are proceeding to accommodate this enormous land grab venture.

Important questions remain unanswered:

• Over 70% of residents live on farms/rural acreages and have already paid up to $50,000 for their wells and septic fields. Small lot owners have already paid for piped water and wastewater (for some, additional levies too). Why should they pay more?

• The new Water Treatment plant and Wastewater Plant costs should be borne by the Developers/Builders and new property owners by way of a “Local Improvement District.” User pay is how costs should be allocated in any new development, not by taxing the entire municipality!

• How will this impact our property taxes?

• Will developers and new residents share the costs fairly?
• What will this mean for our schools, roads, and services if population growth accelerates?

• Dugald & Garven Rds are already congested at peak times. How can they handle the new traffic?

Springfield residents deserve full transparency and responsible financial planning before moving forward.

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🤝 A Call for Respectful, Informed Dialogue

This meeting is about protecting Springfield’s future together. Residents will have an opportunity to ask respectful, constructive questions directly to presenters and councillors.

📢 Why Your Voice Matters

Springfield’s residents have shown before that when we speak up, we are heard. Over 3,500 people stood together last October. That unity made a difference.

Now we need to do it again — by showing up, staying informed, and ensuring that our council is accountable to its residents.

💡 Springfield Strong
Our municipality is growing, and change is inevitable. But growth must be responsible, transparent, and respectful of our rural way of life. Together, we can safeguard what makes Springfield such a great place to live, while planning wisely for the future.

STOP HIGHER TAXES        STOP BYLAW 21-25

URGENT: Major Property Tax Increases Coming to Springfield

The Springfield Taxpayers Rights Corp is committed to keeping property and homeowners informed about the looming significant municipal property tax increases.

These tax hikes stem directly from ongoing mismanagement, poor planning, and what many believe is an abuse of public trust by Mayor Patrick Therrien and Councillors Melinda Warren (Ward 4) and Glen Fuhl (Ward 1).

What’s Coming?
Your 2025 Property Tax Bill will arrive by mid-August — as previously reported throughout 2024 we believe Springfield residents will face a 17% to 21% tax increase. Worse still, this could become the norm for the next five years, not the exception.

Note:  up to 70% of Springfield residents primarily live on rural residential acreages and want to maintain our rural municipality status with a low tax base with limited services and not become a suburb of Winnipeg!

Springfield residents have already paid many thousands of dollars for their own wells/septic fields or piped water connections, some costing as high as $50K. Why should we be forced by Therrien, Fuhl and Warren to pay a second time for Small Lot High Density Developments’ Infrastructure that directly enhances developers’ profits.

Misguided Growth in Oakbank & Dugald

Mayor Therrien is aggressively pushing a 20-year accelerated growth plan along the Oakbank and Dugald Corridors, targeting 200 new homes per year.

                                             Let’s break that down Annually:

• ~720 new residents adding 400 more vehicles to our roads every year
• ~320 new students added to our already overcrowded schools
• Zero Planning - for significant increased commuter traffic on Hwy 15 & Garven Road, ongoing education standards, public safety, fire & police protection
• Therrien’s comment: “We’ll worry about the rest later.”

The Real Costs

• New water treatment plant: $30+ million less grants plus inflation
• Significant rate increases for residents on piped water
• New wastewater treatment plant: $50+ million (plus up to 30% over budget) no grants plus inflation
• Capital Cost Debt repayments and stripping out our reserve funds are not calculated in future tax years
• Long-term service/maintenance deficits: For every $1 collected from small-lot developments, our Rural municipality spends $1.28 to service these properties (Source: Canadian Association of Rural Municipalities)

This is a recipe for ongoing deficits and unsustainable tax increases.

Impact on Property Values

Skyrocketing taxes and Forced Urbanization threaten to erode rural property values — especially for residents on acreages and farms.

STOP BYLAW 21-25

Mayor Therrien, CAO Draper, and Councillors Warren and Fuhl are pushing through Bylaw 21-25, a sweeping land use bylaw designed to:

• Further weaken public oversight
• Bypass meaningful public hearings
• Shift power away from residents and council to the mayor and unelected “designated officers”!

They plan to pass it quietly at the August 19^th, 6pm council meeting, while many residents are on summer holidays. This tactic has been used before — forcing in major decisions with minimal public visibility.

What Can We Do?

We can challenge Bylaw 21-25 through the Municipal Board of Manitoba, which helped craft our 2018 Master Land Use Plan — a plan that Therrien, Warren, and Fuhl have ignored or undermined at every turn.

  Our petition signed by Springfield taxpayers as objectors to Bylaw 21-25, we can trigger a Municipal Board hearing and demand transparency, accountability, and a proper review.

Thank You to Our Champions

A sincere thank you to Councillors Andy Kuczynski and Mark Miller for their consistent opposition to Therrien’s irresponsible plans. They stand with residents who want to preserve Springfield’s rural values and fiscal responsibility.
Springfield belongs to all its residents, not developers, Therrien, Warren or Fuhl. Let’s act now before irreversible damage is done.

Allan Akins, STRC President  allanakinsis@gmail.com  phone 204 791 6270

Petition is available at:                SpringfieldTaxpayersRights.com

In this article:
A well-written brief on solutions from Springfield’s Helen Garrod. She includes a link to a petition to urge Premier Kinew to stop stalling and strengthen Law and Policy NOW.

An extremely interesting piece from Our Line in the Sand, and also a link to their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ourlineinthesandmanitoba). I encourage you to follow them as they remain The leaders in representing Springfield Residents Rights on the Sio Silica File.

An editorial by Kevin Klein in the Winnipeg Sun: Top Manitoba Conservatives Stefanson, Cullen, and Wharton breached ethics laws 

A new column by Dan Lett, senior writer at the Free Press: Real question is why Stefanson and ministers put reputations on line for Sio Silica

Urgent message to Springfield Residents

I regret to inform you that Mayor Therrien plans to use the last council meeting prior to Christmas to pass the procedures bylaw amendments that will effectively shut down public opinion and participation at council meetings. All current and future issues and concerns affecting Springfield residents will now be unable to be heard and debated in a public forum.

THE COUNCIL MEETING IS PLANNED FOR A 6:00 PM START TUESDAY DECEMBER 17 AT THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL OFFICES.

PLEASE ATTEND.

Therrien plans to speed-track major changes to our municipality that will transform Springfield’s rural identity to more closely resemble a suburb of Winnipeg and effectively alter the benefits and values currently appreciated by Springfield residents. Therrien’s support for Sio silica and 20-50 the WRM plan to absorb Springfield into greater Winnipeg will be just the tip of the iceberg. 

MAJOR TAX INCREASES ARE COMING.

Existing residents will be expected to pay servicing upgrades enabling 200 serviced lots to be created annually. We will be expected to pay north of $55 million dollars plus interest via property tax increases, to pay for this unpopular and unfair plan to be implemented by Mayor Therrien, and councillors Fuhl and Warren.
We the residents have already paid for our own fresh water and wastewater services.  Why should we pay again for sewer and freshwater services for small lots in the Dugald / Oakbank corridor? Is it not the responsibility of Tory builders and developers to pay for their own development costs? 

Remember, in October of this year, over 200 residents, many of them STRC members, attended a special council meeting at the Dugald Community Centre. Over 50 of those who attended took to the podium to voice their frustration and concern that the mayor intended to muzzle residents’ participation at all future council meetings. They unilaterally requested Therrien’s to withdraw the legislation, to the applause of all who attended.

It’s now obvious that Therrien, Fuhl, and Warren had no intention of withdrawing the legislation. 

What does it take, you ask? 

A continued pressure by residents is the only way to stop these irresponsible rogue mayor and councillors. Acting in bad faith and exceeding one’s authority is obvious and detestable, in the opinion of STRC. 

Also enclosed in this newsletter is the Charter of Rights Advocate Group (constitutional lawyers) letter to Mayor Therrien and council confirming that the removal of public discourse in municipal governance is unconstitutional. 
So Therrien, Fuhl, and Warren may be morally and constitutionally corrupt in their efforts to silence the very people they were elected to represent. 

As a past conservative federal party advisor and organizer in Manitoba, particularly in the riding of 
Provencher in the 80’s and 90’s, and Past President of the Provincial Conservative Party in Springfield, I am ashamed to have supported Therrien for Mayor in the 2022 municipal election. 

I have never seen a man so bent on intimidating and running rough shod over his constituents, hell-bent on shutting down public opinion, which is vital for residents to voice the concerns and issues of our community.

His campaign commitments to open, transparent, honest, and inclusive government, was merely “politics”.
Therrien is The Grinch who stole Springfield right out from under our noses, and make no mistake, he is the Judas amongst us. 


Allan Akins 
President, STRC
 

Charter of Rights Advocate Group:
https://mcusercontent.com/26d2d821b0c44572dc0b5fd18/files/4e8ff015-e6f2-3649-0fca-9f87654021bd/CACltrtoRMofSpringfieldCouncil_Sept16_24_426ab4dc15.pdf

A Special Thank You to Springfield Residents who participated in our Referendum/Poll on the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) Plan 20-50.

The results are now in: 98+% of Springfielder’s participating in our opinion pole say No to Mayor Therrien’s plan to turn Springfield's sovereignty in land use planning to Winnipeg by joining the new 20-50 WMR plan. Over 3,500 ratepayers representing more than 33% of Springfields eligible voters said no to Therrien’s unpopular proposition.

This campaign had two components:

1) Inform Springfield Residents: The WMR Plan 20-50 is a plan to extend the City of Winnipeg’s existing land use decision-making and boundaries to include Springfield. Plan 20-50 has been negotiated, and led by non-elected officials, without public input or approval. The final document was created in secret meetings. For the most part, it was kept under the radar, by design, by its authors. Mayor Therrien, acting independently, voted for Plan 20-50 at 1st Reading without consulting his ratepayers. Nor did he receive approval from Springfield Council Members.

2) Expectations of Springfield Residents: We believe over one-third of Springfield voters sends a strong message to the THREE of our COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor Therrien, Councillors Fuhl, and Warren on this issue. They should now agree and confirm that they will start respecting resident’s voices and interests, and put them above their own opinions. We want to keep our Rural Lifestyle and Values that include large acreage lots with a minimum of rural services which allows, in turn, for lower property taxes. We do not want our Green Space and Agricultural Reserve Lands to be consumed by more costly intensive small-lot housing Developments at our expense.

We believe Springfield’s own Master Land Use Development Plan Bylaw needs to be protected by Council.

We expect our Representatives at the municipal council table to be more open and transparent. We request that all 5 members of council publicly confirm that they will guard and protect Springfield’s country lifestyle and rural values for the sole benefit of EXISTING SPRINGFIELD RESIDENTS as their first and most important Priority.

Thank You

For more information please contact
Allan Akins, Springfield Taxpayers Rights Corp.
204-791-6270
allanakinsis@gmail.com

A special thanks to Springfield Councillors Miller and Kuczynski for their unwavering support for all Springfield Residents. You can reach out to them directly.
Mark: mark@mmiller.ca and Andy: kasprod@mymts.net

The Dugald Oakbank Water Treatment System (DOWS) is a proposed water treatment facility aimed at supporting new developments in the Dugald and Oakbank areas. The project comes at a steep price for residents:

The RM is Borrowing $50 Million in Total

Here is the breakdown (Source – RM of Springfield Financial Plan 2023):

• $12,563,000 for the Dugald Oakbank Water Treatment System (DOWS)
• $22,000,000 for Lagoon Expansion
• $9,010,000 for Springfield Recreation Centre (Phase 1)
• $9,900,948 for Springfield Recreation Centre (Phase 2)

Why DOWS May Not Be the Best Option for Springfield

• Local Improvement District: DOWS should be taxed as a Local Improvement District, meaning only those who benefit should pay—as is common in other RMs.
• Developer Contributions: Developers should contribute more to the costs upfront, reducing the burden on taxpayers.
• No Benefit to current taxpayers : DOWS primarily supports new developments, so existing residents see no direct benefits. Homes on municipal water will pay higher consumer charges and a special levy, homes on private wells still retain all costs for their systems.
• Existing Capacity: The RM’s November 1, 2023, Water and Waste Management report confirms that current water capacity is sufficient for upcoming projects like Dugald Place Assisted Living, Dugald Pool, Vision 2020 Personal Care Home, and Springfield Rec Centre, as well as 470 residential lots currently approved for development
• High Costs and Waste: DOWS uses Reverse Osmosis (RO), an expensive and wasteful method. RO could potentially waste the equivalent of 75 Olympic swimming pools of water each year.
• Impact on Environment: RO is not an eco-friendly option, especially with Springfield’s other healthier and more affordable water sources available. RO produces brine that can harm the environment if not properly managed. RO waste water will be discharged into Cooks Creek Drainage Ditch which empties into the floodway.  Homes close to the floodway may have their well water negatively effected from this discharged water.  Large-scale RO can over-extract water from natural sources, depleting resources and harming ecosystems.
• Energy Intensive: RO requires significant energy, increasing its carbon footprint, especially if powered by non-renewable sources.
• Health Concerns: The water from the three proposed wells fails to meet drinking water guidelines for fluoride, sodium, and total dissolved solids—areas further east do meet these guidelines.
• Better Alternatives: Springfield has access to other pristine water sources that are significantly less expensive and require minimal treatment.

6 Examples of Eco-Friendly, Cost-Effective Alternatives for Springfield

1. Move & Redrill Wells: Move and redrill the existing Heatherdale wells slightly south or east, staying within the Moosenose aquifer. This site was originally chosen as the best location to supply fresh water to Oakbank and Dugald for current and future needs.

The Moosenose is a large aquifer with its southern boundary intersecting the town of Oakbank and extending north into the Birds Hill Provincial Park. The eastern boundary crosses provincial highway 206 and the western boundary ends at the Red River Floodway.

2. Reservoir/Holding Tank: Install a holding tank at the existing Heatherdale wells to allow fines to settle, reducing the need for intensive treatment.
3. Expropriate Polluting Quarries: Expropriate surrounding quarry operators who are contaminating the municipal water supply—these quarries are nearly depleted and soon won’t be cost-effective to mine.
4. Water Sharing with RM of Tache: Reach an agreement with the RM of Tache to pipe treated water from Lorette to the Dugald treatment center. Approximately 5.7 M.
5. Draw from Shoal Lake Aqueduct: Consider drawing untreated water from the Shoal Lake Aqueduct or directly from the Greater Winnipeg Water Treatment Plant and pipe it to the Dugald treatment and distribution center.
6. Independent Study: Commission an independent engineering study to identify a sustainable, pristine water supply within Springfield with the goal of reducing capital costs by 50%, ensuring it meets future needs with minimal treatment. Estimate of 8.4 M.

Did You Know?

• The RM approved a major draw of pristine aquifer water for Sky Blue Water Inc., a water bottling company close to PR #302 and #15. The well draw could support 5,000-6,200 Springfield residents—currently, there are only 1,334 Springfield residents on piped water! The RM of Springfield is fortunate to have many options for a new pristine fresh water!
• There are already more than 1,220 unoccupied new lots and houses for sale in the RM.

Anola with 86 new lots assigned,  Dugald’s Wheatland and Skylark with 179 assigned unbuilt lots and 284 pending applications, Oakbank’s Terracon, Sienna Ridge, Hendren, R&B, and Qualico have assigned 211 unbuilt lots, West Pine Ridge with 460 new five acre lots.

It’s Not Too Late

The RM of Springfield Council has the power to withdraw Borrowing Bylaw 24-01.

Next Steps

The Environmental Approvals Branch must grant a license for DOWS, and the RM is waiting for this decision.

Let’s Contact the RM of Springfield Council and Ask Them to Do Their Homework

Urge them to commission an independent study to find a sustainable, pristine water supply within Springfield with the goal of reducing the capital costs by 50%.

• Mayor – Patrick Therrien
  Email: ptherrien@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-902-0728
• Councillor, Ward 1 – Glen Fuhl
  Email: gfuhl@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-232-4631
• Councillor, Ward 2 – Andy Kuczynski
  Email: akuczynski@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-403-8971
• Councillor, Ward 3 – Mark Miller
  Email: mmiller@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-403-82
• Councillor, Ward 4 – Melinda Warren
  Email: mwarren@rmofspringfield.ca
  Phone: 204-403-8201

What Residents are Saying

STRC recently completed an extensive canvas throughout the entire RM, meeting with over 1,200 residents. Over 90% of residents consulted said no to this excessive costly growth plan and don’t want to pay from their own pocket for services that don’t benefit them. Springfield residents want to keep their rural community identity and not move towards being a suburb of Winnipeg.

Who is Springfield Taxpayer Rights Corp (STRC)? A large group of over 1,000 concerned residents consisting of many professionals including but not limited to, engineers, a retired Chief Administrative Officer, Professors of University of Manitoba & Winnipeg, former Councillors, politicians, doctors, teachers, business owners, farmers, and a whole host of lay peoples.

UPDATE June 17, 2024:
MAYOR Therrien, Councillors Warren and Fuhl (with only 4 days notice to the public),
are NOW planning to give second and third reading to pass the hotly contested General Borrowing Bylaw that will force All Springfield Residents, without their consent, to pay for new offsite sewer and water services supporting developer profits and allow for accelerated residential development of up to 200 new homes  annually in the Dugald Oakbank corridor!

Without consultation, adequate notice or consent from the public, the RM staff and Mayor are also planning to slip in an additional tax on Residents currently on serviced water. The proposed new additional tax could easily add up to $300 per Residence to their annual water bill.

         THERRIEN’S RECKLESS  “PASS THIS NOW, WORRY ABOUT THE REST LATER” APPROACH  is totally contrary to 90% of THE Springfielder’s who participated in the door to door Survey / Petition conducted by Springfield Taxpayers Rights Corp.

   Over 1200 residents said no to pay for infrastructure costs directly benefiting developers and builders and voted no to Springfields transition to become a Suburb of Winnipeg.

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From June 11, 2024

Message from Councillors Miller and Kuczynski

Borrowing plans for the next 3 years in Springfield may raise resident taxes by up to $1,250 per year due to infrastructure needs of developers.

Click below to see their latest video:

Mayor Therrien & Councillors Warren & Fuhl’s MASSIVE PROPERTY TAX PROPOSAL

Usually, local improvements for major infrastructure projects, which provide services to new homes and multi residential developments, are funded by the property developers. Purchasers of these new properties usually pay their share of development costs, as the infrastructure costs are reflected in the purchase price of new homes and properties. Developers are usually expected to carry a majority of the water and waste infrastructure costs, as these improvements significantly increase the value of their properties, usually doubling the property’s value. New Residents, who will eventually use these services, could also be required to pay for the remaining offsite service costs.

Most Municipalities usually administrate these user pay projects via a LOCAL IMPROVEMENT BYLAW.

HOWEVER… Here is Therrien, Fuhl & Warren’s Plan…

Mayor Therrien, along with Councillors Fuhl and Warren, are now preparing a GENERAL BORROWING BYLAW that will force ALL SPRINGFIELD RESIDENTS to pay for these offsite services, which are intended for the benefit of four planned developments in Dugald and one in Oakbank.

HOW ARE SPRINGFIELD RESIDENTS AFFECTED?

Estimated Costs to supply new services, exclusively for the benefit of new development, is north of $55 million dollars.  This will undoubtedly increase all resident’s property taxes substantially. Initial estimates including the debt servicing fees will certainly add hundreds of dollars per year to all resident’s property taxes.

Allan Akins, a Director of Springfield Taxpayers Rights Corp (STRC), states that this appears to be another rushed, poorly thought-out plan, by Therrien, that has very little to no support from our community. Therrien’s plan appears to increase the profits of Business Developers and Builders, at the expense of Springfield Residents.

Therrien’s plan is also to accelerate the availability of serviced lots for home builds, from our current 70 new builds per year to a minimum of 200 new residences each year.  WE believe this number of new builds is excessive and will not only affect our rural identity, but it will continue to increase traffic congestion and safety concerns on Dugald and Garven Roads for commuters. This plan would also place significant stress on our schools, as their capacity is already extended.

Most Importantly, a vast MAJORITY of Springfield Residents have already invested up to $50,000 for their own Wells and/or Septic Fields. Why should we be forced to pay for the services of new residents in these new developments?

Akins also stated, “Therrien is not offering funding for existing and new Acreage Residents. Currently all residents on acreages must provide for their own services, by drilling new wells and septic fields on their property.” Why is Therrien giving new residential small lot builders and developers a free ride at our expense? We have already paid once for our own services, why then should we pay for someone else’s?

Councillors Andy Kuczynski (Ward 2) and Mark Miller (Ward 3) have been vocal against the proposed new tax and spend scheme. They are fighting for fair taxation for all Springfield residents. Councillors Kuczynski and Miller promote the benefit, user pay approach that will not additionally tax existing residents and safeguarding the key concerns of our community members.

WHAT ARE RESIDENTS REQUESTING?

STRC members have recently completed an extensive canvas throughout the ENTIRE MUNICIPALITY, meeting with over 800 residents.

Akins confirmed the following results:

1. Over 90% of the residents we consulted with, said, “NO” to Therrien, Fuhl and Warren’s excessive costly growth plan which includes PAYING up to $55 MILLION DOLLARS FROM RESIDENTS’ OWN POCKETS FOR SERVICES, from which they will receive no benefit.
2. Overwhelmingly Springfield residents want to keep their rural community identity and not move towards becoming a suburb of Winnipeg.
3. All proposed new development plans for Springfield must not affect residents existing quality of life.

The executive and members of STRC believe all residents should be aware of this massive multi Million-dollar TAX HIKE, which is also most quite likely contravening Springfield’s Master Land Use Development Plan and it’s adopted policies.

We have contacted an exceptionally large number of our Springfield residents, most of whom have no idea about this pending proposed bylaw.

PROPOSAL TO MAYOR THERRIEN AND COUNCIL

New Developments
With less than 10% support from the community on Therrien, Fuhl and Warren’s tax increase, and after listening to what residents said at the door, WE ARE PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING:

1. Mayor Therrien and council withdraw the General Borrowing Bylaw.
2. That council agrees to hold and commits to meaningful public hearings and follow the recommendations of the community that it ‘SERVES”!
3. Council confirms adoption of a user pay by-law for all new developments.
4. Council reaffirms that they will uphold and follow Springfield’s existing by-laws including our Master Land Use by-law development plan.
5. Council reaffirms the rights of its ratepayers and restores residents’ full access and participation on important matters affecting our community at council meetings.
6. Council agrees to establish, with residents, a fair and reasonable annual cap on all new home and residential construction in Springfield. Additionally, Council will provide a detail forward looking financial plan that identifies how projects will be funded and to address the concerns of residents.

Council agrees to establish a comprehensive, fair and honest review of costs regarding our proposed current freshwater reverse osmosis treatment plant with the goal of reducing the capital costs by 50%. Currently there are seven viable options to explore that Mayor Therrien and Councillors Fuhl and Warren failed to consider prior to first reading.

Make your voice heard!

DEMAND that the RM of Springfield Council be FAIR & EQUITABLE!

Tell Mayor Therrien, Councillor Fuhl and Councillor Warren to:

1. IMMEDIATELY withdraw the General Borrowing Bylaw (which taxes ALL residents)
2. Bring to council a “Local Improvement Bylaw” (which is fair and equitable) (A Local Improvement Bylaw will require the Land Developers and Builders, who are the beneficiaries of new municipal water and sewer services, to unconditionally agree to pay for these services IN FULL)

Mayor Patrick Therrien: 204-902-0728 Email: ptherrien@rmofspringfield.ca
Councillor Glen Fuhl: 204-232-4631 Email:gfuhl@rmofspringfield.ca
 Councillor Melinda Warren: 204-403-8201 Email:mwarren@rmofspringfield.ca

3. Sign the below petitions and email to Allan Akins (allanakinsis@gmail.com)

DOWS Petition

ROSSOL Petition

PRESS RELEASE - February 16, 2024
From SAVE OUR WATER and Springfield Taxpayer Rights Corp

Today, we are very pleased and relieved to hear the announcement that the Government will not grant Sio Silica a mining license.    We would first like to thank the newly elected provincial government under the leadership of our new Premier Wab Kinuw and Minister Schmidt for listening to the people and following the science on this very controversial issue.    We must also acknowledge the Citizens of Springfield who have worked hard over the last 3 years to draw the public’s attention to the serious risk that this project poses to our pure drinking water. Our survey in September resulted in a 96.4% vote against Sio Silica. We thank all the people for their continued support and dedication to the preservation of maintaining a safe and dependable water source for our homes and businesses over the last 3 years.  If the people hadn’t turned out time and again and voted when they could against this untested and very risky project, the decision would likely have been made a year ago but not in our favour.    Since the first signs of this project showed up in Springfield, our local council seemed to ignore the concerns of the people and disregard our by-laws and procedures.  Beginning with the test hole drilling, the open stockpiles of silica sand, the amassing of mineral rights licensing, land clearing etc. our locally elected representatives seemed more motivated by their provincial masters that their constituents concerns. But thankfully elections happen and sometimes they do make a difference.   In 2022, the municipal election replaced 4 out of 5 members of council.  Two new councillors: Mark Miller and Andy Kuczynski did not bend to the pressure of the provincial will and instead stood up for the citizens of Springfield.  Their commitment to promoting Springfield’s future and protecting the environment put them in very difficult circumstances at times and our appreciation for their efforts is so very much appreciated.   Then with the provincial election of 2023 the Conservative machine that seemed to have been driving this project regardless of the risks to the environment, regardless of provincial statutes and regulations, thankfully came to an abrupt end.     Although today’s announcement is very welcomed, we are still left with the underlying feeling that there is still more to be done. The Sio Silica mining and processing project should not have gotten this far.  The laws that are in place have either been overlooked or are too weak to protect the public’s safety and interests.  Save Our Water and Springfield Taxpayer Rights organized to become the voice that our elected officials should have had.   We do not want this type of project to ever happen again.  We fully support the Ethics Investigation that is underway but we would also ask for a full enquiry on how this project was handled.  Almost from the beginning, rules seem to have been bent, ignored or manipulated by people high up in power.  Decisions were made that facilitated the project but lacked rational or practical thinking, such as dividing the project into two parts for licensing.  The processing plant and the mining of silica could not exist separately.    A enquiry would hopefully expose who behind the scenes was making the decisions, what deals may have been made, who may benefit most from the project etc.   Allan Akins, the President and spokesperson for SAVE OUR WATER, and Springfield Taxpayer Rights Corp is not able to attend the Press Release but is available by phone for comment and to answer questions this afternoon between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.  520-822-7414

Below are copies of the zoning by-laws 08-01 and 21-25.