FIPPA requests were made to Water Stewardship February 2011 for records related to: establishment and operation of the Fairford Water Control Structure and/or the Assiniboine Diversion from the 1960s to present; and respecting flooding of Lake St. Martin. Under FIPPA the public body has 30 days to respond to a FIPPA request. After no response by August 2011 a complaint was filed with the Manitoba Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman found that Manitoba Water Stewardship failed to respond within the time period required under FIPPA. The Ombudsman also found that the department failed in its duty to assist an applicant by not responding openly, completely and without delay.

Three recommendations were made to the department, all of which were accepted. Water Stewardship is now working to provide the information.

Lake St. Martin First Nation has experienced repeated severe flooding, and in 2011 the whole community remains evacuated.