WINNIPEG - The Canadian Taxpayers Federation and hydro, engineering and environmental experts hope to sway public opinion against the province's plan to build a new high-voltage transmission line down the west side of the province.

They said Monday the province would be much better off by building the new line down the shorter route on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

The coalition also includes former United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee President Jim Collinson, electrical engineering specialist John Roschuk and University of Manitoba Professor Emeritus Jim Graham.

CTF-Manitoba spokesman Colin Craig said the group wanted to present its findings as Manitoba Hydro plans to hold public meetings around the province on three proposed routes on the west-side Bipole III transmission line.

The new transmission line has been a political hot potato for those close to the subject, but it has so far failed to resonate with the public.

Craig said the coalition hopes to change that. Download the coalition's presentation at www.taxpayer.com/node/10509.

Craig said a line running down the west side of the province will cost an additional $1.4 billion over a shorter line down the east side.

Collinson said an east-side line would not jeopardize the province's hope of getting an UNESCO World Heritage designation, as long as part of the line is routed around three main rivers and their watersheds.

He also said it would have little impact on caribou in that the line's right-of-way won't increase access by predators.

"The fact is wolves are going to find caribou anyway," he said.

Graham, whose specialty is geotechnical engineering, said the province's plan to build new roads to communities on the east side does more to threaten the area than a transmission line; by cutting down trees, building bridges and increasing vehicle traffic.

"There will be an environmental impact of that road--it's indisputable," Graham said.

The province is currently building an all-season road from Hollow Water to Berens River, following a winter road route.

Craig said he's optimistic the coalition's message will be heard and the new line will be built down the east side.

But it's unlikely the province will change its mind.

In his last major announcement as premier, Gary Doer said the province will contribute $10-million to a new trust fund aimed at winning the heritage status for the 40,000-square-kilometre wilderness area.

And Premier Greg Selinger, the former minister responsible for Hydro, has said repeatedly an east-side line is not up for discussion as the final decision was made more than two years ago.

QUICK FACTS

-- The three proposed routes for Bipole III will curve around the west side of Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis.

-- Each is about 400 to 600 kilometres longer than if a transmission line were built on the east side of the province.

-- The province has mandated that Hydro build the power line down the west side of the province so as not to jeopardize efforts to establish a United Nation's World Heritage Site in the wilderness forest east of Lake Winnipeg.

-- The transmission line is needed to transfer more electricity from northern dams to Winnipeg and for power sales to the United States.

-- Manitoba Hydro is planning a series of public meetings around the province on the proposed routes. Go to www.hydro.mb.ca/projects/bipoleIII for information.