Farmers stage rally at the legislature over flood compensation

Farmers near the Portage Diversion are calling on the province to build a channel to drain Lake Manitoba when the diversion is used.

Farmers who blocked the Portage Diversion last week took their fight to the Manitoba legislature Tuesday.

They are calling on the government to build a channel that would drain Lake Manitoba when the diversion is being operated.

Two farmers who participated in the blockade last week say they no longer have to plead their case in court.

Kevin Yuill said he and another farmer received subpoenas to appear in court Tuesday, May 7.

But they have now issued a statement that a deal was made with the Crown, in which the government will not make any claims for costs and drop the case.

“We are relieved we don't have charges against us,” says Yuill. “We made the government back off and more people in the province are now aware of our situation. That is huge, just huge.”

The group protested the operation of the diversion, as it said the government failed to adequately compensate for damages from the 2011 flood.

The province sought a court injunction April 29 to remove the farmers and send water down the diversion channel to Lake Manitoba.

“We will not interfere with the flow of water and we never were going to,” said Yuill.

But he says they want to keep pressure on the government and continue to demand a meeting they say Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton promised them last week.

The NDP government said Tuesday it has paid out an average of $300,000 per producer in the area for 2011 losses, and would be willing to cover losses in 2012 and 2013 if the federal government gets on board.

"Our position is that this is something that is a reasonable initiative with the federal government, and we have not given up on that," Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton said.

The province said it's waiting for the right time to meet with the group of farmers.

- with files from The Canadian Press