Farmers to appear in court for Portage Diversion blockade

Several Manitoba farmers subpoenaed to appear in court

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

 A farmer who participated in the Portage Diversion protest on April 29 says he’s been served a subpoena to appear in court.

Several Manitoba farmers are to appear in court Tuesday, May 7. A spokesperson for the province says that no charges have been laid. The source also said that the farmers haven’t been ordered to appear in court, but rather given an opportunity to appear if they wish to speak out against the injunction.

Last month, farmers who live near Lake Manitoba whose lands were flooded due to government orders in 2011, set up a blockade with their tractors in a sign of protest. The farmers were protesting what they are calling a lack of compensation for damage that occurred three-years ago when government officials ordered a water diversion away from towns downstream.

The government recently ordered a diversion again, due to rising flood waters from the Assiniboine River, noting an ice-jam prompted food risks for the communities of - Cartier, St. François Xavier and Headingley.

Farmers are expected to rally outside the courtroom on Tuesday morning.