WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government says it will launch an independent review of this year's flooding early in the new year.
Steve Ashton, the minister responsible for emergency measures, promised the review earlier this year, and says it has taken time to put together because the flood is still having effects on people.
Ashton says the review will be arm's-length from government but will involve government employees as well as outside experts.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard says the review should be launched immediately, so that lessons can be learned in time for next year's spring melt.
Gerrard blames the government for much of this year's flood woes.
He says inaccurate forecasts, poor drainage practices and broken promises to improve dikes made matters worse this year.
He says an independent review should look at what the government did wrong.
Ashton says the review will offer lessons on improvements that can be made.
But he says the province has done a lot to improve flood-fighting, such as buying new ice-breaking equipment and increasing sand-bagging.
