The Wilderness Committee applauds Dr. Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, for holding the government of Manitoba accountable for their plans to allow a logging road to bisect a protected park.

The Wilderness Committee applauds Dr. Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, for holding the government of Manitoba accountable for their plans to allow an all-weather logging road to bisect a protected area of Grass River Provincial Park.

On May 13, during Question Period in the Manitoba legislature, Gerrard rose to pose a question about the NDP government's plans. Quoting directly from Hansard:
"Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): To the Premier: I understand the Premier is working with his government on the all-weather permanent Dickstone Road which crosses through the Grass River Provincial Park with a permanent bridge to be constructed across the Grass River. I understand this is a major initiative of the government undertaking in one of the most beautiful and pristine parks in Manitoba, the Grass River Provincial Park. Why is the road being built through the park instead of north of the park and direct to Highway 10, and will there be public consultations, including First Nations and Métis in Snow Lake, Sherridon, Pukatawagan, Flin Flon and Winnipeg?"

Winnipeg Free Press reporter Dan Lett, who was in the House, wrote in his column the following day: "Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux rose to answer Gerrard's first question, but he failed to provide a reasonable answer. When Gerrard pressed in a second question, it was Premier Gary Doer who got up on his feet. The fact Doer rose to handle the question was a clear tell the government side of the chamber was a tad concerned about what Gerrard might make out of the proposed Grass River road. "The often-overlooked Grit was succinct, direct and lucid in his attack on government. And he did what the Tories were generally unable to do yesterday: He got the government to flinch. The best strategy is to ask questions that are so direct and well constructed, the premier is left scrambling to save one of his ministers. That is something that over time will catch everyone's attention."

The follow-up question posed by Gerrard raised a very important point (from Hansard): Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): "…Can the minister table today the peer-reviewed management plan for woodland caribou in that area or even the park plan which is now more than 20 years old?"

Unfortunately, Premier Doer did not answer the question in his response. The Wilderness Committee has been asking for a woodland caribou management plan, or even current location data for the threatened woodland caribou herds in the region since 2006. On May 5, the Wilderness Committee was finally assured by Conservation Minister Struthers that woodland caribou herd size and location data for northwestern Manitoba would be forwarded to our office. As of May 16, we have not received anything, and the deadline for public comment on this bridge and road proposal ended on May 14.