This 2001 report explains why Manitoba is falling behind, compared to other western provinces, in protecting its natural heritage for future generations. Between 47% to 62% of the Duck Mountain, Nopiming and Whiteshell Provincial Parks are open to industrial activities such as clear-cut logging. The report recommends writing the government to urge for full protection of these parks and to create new parks such as the proposed Sturgeon Bay and Manigotagan Parks.

Parks at risk: Manitoba

Wilderness Committee Educational Report Vol.20 - No.03, Summer/Fall 2001

When a Park is Not a Park

Government Policy on "Protected Areas"

"At a minimum, protected areas prohibit, through legal means, logging, mining (including aggregate extraction), and oil, petroleum, natural gas or hydro-electric development."
August 2001: Found posted on the Manitoba Government Website - www.gov.mb.calnatreslpai

Reality in Provincial Parks

"It's important to note, however, that today more than 78% of our provincial park area ... is free from logging, mining and hydroelectric development."
March 2001: Statement by Manitoba Minister of Conservation Oscar Lathlin's

Caneoists enjoy Star Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park (now adjacent to a 'resource management' zone of the park where logging is permitted). Photo courtesy of Manitoba Provincial Archives, 1934. Unknown photographer

Manitoba is falling far behind most provinces in protecting its natural heritage for future generations. While BC and Alberta have forged ahead making major strides in protecting their fragile environments, Manitoba has only protected 5.4%.

For example, on July 24, 2001 the Alberta Government created the 5,910 square kilometre Caribou Mountains Wildland Provincial Park adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park. This park is bigger than Manitoba's Duck Mountain, Nopiming and Whiteshell provincial parks put together - and unlike Manitoba no logging or min- ing or gas drilling is allowed in Alberta's huge new park!

Why is Manitoba failing to protect its natural heritage? Is it because the people of Manitoba are not interested in creating new parks and in protecting existing ones? No. Manitobans do care.

In 1999 Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Canada's largest membership-based wilderness conservation society with over 26,000 members, established a Manitoba Chapter. WCWC canvassers began going door to door talking to people about the state of the parks in the province. Over the last 18 months they have visited over 100,000 homes in the Winnipeg area. They found that most people were unaware that commercial logging was going on in Manitoba's parks. After being made aware of it, the vast majority of citizens are opposed.

They want fully protected provincial parks. They want to see Park Reserves upgraded to permanent protection intsead of temporary parks that can `expire' a few years after being created.

It's time for Manitoba's NDP government to listen to the people, phase out logging and industrial development in Manitoba's existing parks and create real new parks that future generations of Manitobans can also enjoy.

Great grey owl. Photo credit: Tyrell Mendis

The "modern" Whiteshell Provincial Park approximately 2.5km from Star Lake, July 2000. Photo credit: Shelly Sandhu