Illegal blockade raises liability concerns

Manitoba cottage owners are concerned they may be on the hook for property damage resulting from a three-week-old blockade near Hollow Water that has prevented them from accessing their property to prepare it for winter, said Progressive Conservative Justice Critic, Gerald Hawranik.

Last week in the Legislature when Hawranik asked how long people would have to wait to access their property, Justice Minister Dave Chomiak responded with a flippant answer, completely failing to address the concerns of cottagers.

“If the Justice Minister – the person ultimately responsible to enforce and uphold the laws in our province – won’t stand up today and to enforce the law, he must at least tell residents and cottagers in the area exactly who will pay to repair their damaged plumbing and burst pipes,” Hawranik said.

When cottage owners called for help to access their property to winterize it, Hawranik said, all an NDP spokesperson had to say was, ‘We are asking for people’s patience.’ 

“Many Manitobans already lost out in the NDP’s bungled cottage lot draw and now cottagers can’t even access their own property,” Hawranik said. “Law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to be patient. This blockade is illegal and is just another example of the NDP victimizing the victim.”