One of the first steps we took with the launch of our Park Mining campaign was to find out exactly where the Manitoba Government stands on mining activity in parks. I wrote letters to both the Director of Parks and the Directors of Mines asking how mining activity fits into the vision of Manitoba’s provincial parks. Not surprisingly, the Wilderness Committee feels that mining activity does not belong in parks as it doesn’t support the long-term health of our parks, nor do we see it fitting into the province’s stated vision of parks. We see parks as places where wilderness and wildlife can thrive, and where Manitobans can enjoy their province in its purest state. Considering that the Provincial Parks Act seems to share our view on the purpose of parks, I was interested in hearing their explanations on park mining.

You can view my letter here.

Here’s a brief summary of their responses:

Director of Parks:

Summary: Mining has a long history in parks and Manitoba Conservation does their best to make sure that parks aren’t compromised in the long-run. It’s not a big deal because park mining is largely just exploration activity and since park mining is more restricted, they need work permits for all stages of the mining process.

You can read their response letter here.

Assistant Deputy Minister of Manitoba Innovation, Energy & Mines (none of the 13 Directors of Mines responded):

Summary: Mining is only a temporary use of the land and mineral exploration has little lasting effects on the land. Park mining isn’t something to worry about because economic mineral deposits are so rare. Mining is only taking up 2.4 percent of park lands so it’s a reasonable compromise when 97.6 percent of park land currently has no mining activity.

You can read their response letter here.

Excuses, excuses, excuses! It is absurd to suggest that mineral exploration has little or no effect on the land. It is even more absurd to suggest that mining is just a temporary use of the land. Mining is a filthy, polluting industry that leaves many ‘closed’ mining sites to be monitored in perpetuity and leaves the land altered forever, while exploration pillages park lands with roads, bulldozing, drilling and blasting.

The 2.4 percent of Manitoba’s park lands subject to mining activity doesn’t take into account the cumulative effects development has on our parks. Access roads, past industrial logging activity, logging roads, quarries, cottage developments and mining all stress our parks to the limit. Which of these goes first? Getting mining activity out of parks would greatly decrease the stress on our ‘protected’ areas.

Park mining may have “historical significance,” but we are in the age of environmental knowledge. We know why we need parks and protected areas and holding on to some nostalgic idea of mining in parks is a foolish and poor excuse. Mining companies run the show in Manitoba and here is a quote from a 2008 report called Manitoba Mining: Rich in Opportunities, that blatantly shows mining coming before protected areas:

In Manitoba, the mining sector has been an active participant in consultations regarding the province’s Protected Areas Initiative (PAI). This consultation process is unique in Canada and provides the industry with confidence that areas of high mineral potential will be identified and avoided for the purposes of protection under PAI. Manitoba is recognized as a national leader in terms of balancing the needs of the mining industry and the requirements of the protected areas program.

This is what we’re up against. Manitobans need to come together and support park protection and push for an end to mining activity in parks, forever.

Paloma Corrin | Manitoba Assistant Campaigner