No vision to protect our natural support systems

The Wilderness Committee is pleased that the Manitoba government's throne speech has reaffirmed plans to establish new provincial parks, but the tough decisions and vision needed to ensure our rich, natural heritage is passed on for future generations is still lacking.

“First off, the government does deserve credit for finally getting it, and protecting some of Manitoba's wildlands,” said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

The Manitoba government committed, in 2007 in a Promises to Keep document, to establishing 5 new major protected areas by 2010. Today's mention of two new protected areas follows two new areas announced last fall, and this leaves the government short of their commitment.

“I'm not wild about the throne speech,” said Reder. “There's nothing progressive for our environment. “The government has failed to fulfill their modest protected area commitment, and now we also need a new protected area vision, a goal to double the protected area in Manitoba in a decade.”

As well, the large protected areas announced by the government in the last year—including those mentioned in today's throne speech—are located in the far north of Manitoba. The real visionary success for protected areas in this province will be measured by the large parks created further south, in areas at serious risk of degradation. Protecting the wild and natural ecosystems that surround us will be a benefit.

“Natural, functioning ecosystems that surround us in southern and central Manitoba will keep us healthier,” said Reder. “Our water and air will be cleaner, and our future will be better. But we need to act now to protect these natural areas.”

Finally, despite leading caribou researchers from around the world raising alarms about caribou extirpation in Winnipeg recently, there was no indication that the provincial government will begin to protect woodland caribou habitat from destruction.

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For more information contact Eric Reder, 204.997.8584