The Wilderness Committee distributed a survey to all candidates campaigning in the upcoming provincial election. We asked for their plans to care for Manitoba’s environment. With scientists raising the alarm about worldwide climate and biodiversity crises, it’s essential for elected officials to prioritize the protection of the environment.

Click on the question to see candidates' responses:

Climate

Have you read the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change SR1.5 report? How should Manitoba respond?

Will you commit to reducing our fossil fuel emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 as 120 national governments have agreed to do?

Parks

A July 2018 poll found that 70 per cent of Manitobans support a phase-out of industrial activity from provincial parks. Whiteshell, Nopiming and Duck Mountain are currently being affected. Will you commit to a timeline for phasing out industrial activities in provincial parks?

Lake Winnipeg

Healthy shorelines and wetlands limit the nutrients and sediment reaching Lake Winnipeg, yet Manitoba has no shoreline protection and new regulations that allow wetlands to be drained. Will you commit to a timeline and target to protect remaining wetlands?

Current agricultural practices are allowing excess nutrients from fertilizers and manure to enter our waterways and eventually Lake Winnipeg. Will you commit to more stringent fertilizer and manure management plans for agricultural operations? 

Heart of the Boreal

The Manitoba government just issued an environment act licence for an oil-and-gas frack sand mine in Hollow Water First Nation territory, even though the company still hasn’t filed 15 essential management plans. Will you rescind the environment act licence until the 15 missing management plans have been publicized and peer-reviewed?

Peat

Peatlands are climate powerhouses covering only three per cent of the world’s surface while sequestering 30 per cent of the world’s carbon. As one-third of Manitoba is covered in peatlands, will you commit to a protected areas goal for peatlands?

Lower Bird River

While the Upper Bird River in a protected area of Nopiming Provincial Park is Manitoba’s favourite canoe route, the Lower Bird River continues to be at risk from mining activities. Will you commit to protecting the Lower Bird River according to the wishes of Sagkeeng First Nation whose territory these mining activities are occurring on?

Boreal Woodland Caribou

Although boreal woodland caribou are protected under the federal Species at Risk Act, the Manitoba government has failed to meet the deadline to produce action plans to protect their habitat. Will you commit to producing action plans for all 15 ranges of boreal caribou in Manitoba within 18 months of being elected?

Biodiversity Crisis

The Manitoba government has eliminated the Protected Areas Initiative program and does not have a protected areas goal for the first time since 1992. Other jurisdictions, including Canada, have committed to the target of preserving 17 per cent of lands and waters by 2020. Will you commit to meet these targets in Manitoba?

Have you read the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report? The report states we are facing a worldwide biodiversity crisis. How should Manitoba respond?