Military operations restarted in forest recovering from wildfire devastation after base burnt last year

WINNIPEG / TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS NATION — Wilderness Committee is condemning the Manitoba and federal government for restarting disruptive military operations in a sensitive, ecologically-important moose habitat inside Nopiming Provincial Park, without a required federal impact assessment or any public notice. Residents and wildlife were disturbed by Hercules aircraft making low passes over the wilderness park on October 6, 2026.  

“It is appalling that the Manitoba government would abandon their responsibility to care for a park and important moose habitat,” said Senior Campaigner Eric Reder “It is offensive that the federal government would not follow their own regulations on the construction and operation of a training camp that is so disruptive.”

The military training camp at Springer Lake in Nopiming Provincial Park was given to the Department of National Defense secretly in the 1990s. Its operation disrupts and destroys hundreds of square kilometres of forest and countless lakeshores inside the park. The training base has never had any public consultation, and is not adhering to the requirements of the federal Impact Assessment Act. Most of the training facility burnt in the forest fire of 2025. The reconstruction and operation of a military training facility requires a federal impact assessment, which has not been conducted.

“The Manitoba government and the federal government know the requirements for assessment, and they are failing us with their lack of care for nature and parks,” said Reder. “Generations of Manitobans visit this park, love this park, and deserve better than what governments are doing to these lands and waters.”    

The Springer Lake region was nominated for ecological reserve status more than two decades ago because of bird and frog populations in the region. The government quietly shelved the plan without any public consultation.  

Meanwhile, the moose population has become a great concern across Manitoba, and this region of Nopiming can be a sanctuary for the growth of this culturally-critical species. Loud military operations will disrupt the recovering moose population.

“Securing our future means securing nature. Nopiming Park has a great role to play in bringing people to nature. It can not be further scarred by more military installations," said Reder.
 For info contact:

Eric Reder | Senior Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
eric@wildernesscommittee.org