Delay on Devils Lake outlet?

[CHIMO]

Delay on Devils Lake outlet?
Last Updated Jun 16 2005 08:31 AM CDT

WINNIPEG – Canadian officials are hearing conflicting messages from the North Dakota government on whether the controversial Devils Lake water diversion project will begin to operate on July 1, as planned.

Staff in the Ottawa office of Winnipeg MP Reg Alcock said Wednesday that North Dakota Governor John Hoeven had agreed to delay turning on the taps while negotiations with the Canadian government are ongoing.

"I would have hoped that the leader of the NDP would stand up today and say he has no link at all with what one of his MPs said, because it's not time to end our friendship with the United States. We have a treaty to respect," replied Dion.

"We are working very hard, and we will have results … but with no insult to anyone."

http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=mb_devils-lake-20050615


Devils Lake not on hold, N. Dakota saysThursday, June 16, 2005 Updated at 3:36 PM EDT

Canadian Press

Winnipeg — Weather, not diplomacy, will be the only reason to delay the startup of the Devils Lake water diversion project next month, a spokesman for a North Dakota senator said Thursday.

Don Canton denied a published report that Governor John Hoeven has promised not to operate the outlet until either an agreement has been reached with Canadian officials or talks break off.

Mr. Alcock said in the published report that the latest twist in the dispute followed a phone call Prime Minister Paul Martin made to U.S. President George W. Bush last month.

“The White House is engaged in trying to come to an agreement, and we are all working very hard on that,” Mr. Alcock said.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050616.wdevils0616/BNStory/International/

If these reports are correct, then all I can say is that we really have incompetents in Ottawa. If they are trying to get a side deal outside of the IJC then they have utterly no intelligence!

The IJC is set up to have all aspects examined. If they are going to do away with this and now make it a political decision then we can all say good bye to our water. The sooner we get rid of these inept know it alls in Ottawa the better.

No one in the government is making a stand that they want to see the IJC make a ruling on this issue. Seems to be more of asymmetric politics!

[SpiralHawk]

1. NAWAPA

It lives !

Guard your wellspring well.

[AX10]

2. Canada may have to pull the plug to save themselves