Destructive mineral exploration triggers launch of ‘Stop Park Mining’ campaign

WINNIPEG-As the Manitoba government celebrates mining week, the Wilderness Committee is drawing attention to the destruction caused by the mining industry in our provincial parks. Eight of Manitoba's most popular provincial parks are open to destructive mineral exploration, including Whiteshell and Nopiming.

“Manitobans believe their parks are protected. They are not, and they are being destroyed,” said Eric Reder, Manitoba Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

There are over 250 mining claims in Nopiming alone, covering a staggering 29.9 per cent of the park. In March of this year, a Wilderness Committee expedition uncovered newly bulldozed mineral exploration roads in sensitive areas of the provincial park. There are also half a dozen claims near the Falcon Lake area in Whiteshell Provincial Park, and 47 per cent of the park is available for mining claims. Furthermore, Paint Lake, Grass River and South Atikaki parks all have mining claims in them.

The Wilderness Committee is calling for the Manitoba government to end mineral exploration and mining claim staking in all provincial parks.

"Mining in parks is a ‘lose-lose’ scenario," said Ramsey Hart, Canada Program Director for MiningWatch Canada. "Exploration alone has serious impacts on the environment, and it creates uncertainty because it blurs the lines that limit mining development in the province.”

The Wilderness Committee is launching the “Stop Park Mining” Campaign with public education and engagement, research expeditions and wilderness witness tours to focus public attention on our threatened parks

For more information please contact:

Eric Reder, Manitoba Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee, 204-997-8584

Ramsey Hart, Canada Program Director for MiningWatch Canada, 613-569-3439