WINNIPEG - The vast majority of flood evacuees from a Manitoba First Nation are balking at the province's offer of temporary housing.
Most residents from Lake St. Martin appear to be opting to stay in Winnipeg hotels -- possibly for months on end -- while a new permanent location for the reserve is found.
The evacuation of about 800 people is costing federal taxpayers an average of $4 million a month, with the current total now hovering just over $30 million.
The province had 500 people signed up in December for the interim housing at a former radar base in Gypsumville, but now only 114 say they're interested in moving.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Eric Robinson says the province was ordering 150 homes last month, but now only 40 units are on order.
Officials are hoping to convince more people to move to the site by opening a show home next month.
Band Chief Adrian Sinclair recently rejected the province's offer of temporary housing near the flooded reserve.
He called it a dangerous plan that can't be justified legally, economically or rationally.
