MANITOBA Conservation has expressed concern a proposed peat mine at Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park could pose a fire risk for cottagers, damage the park's only road and harm habitat for Manitoba's dwindling moose population.

The concerns were raised in an email this summer by a Conservation department staffer to a consulting company preparing an environmental-licence application on behalf of peat producer Sun Gro Horticulture.

Meanwhile, a senior Manitoba cabinet minister said Tuesday Sun Gro's proposed 531-hectare development inside the park adjacent to Lake Winnipeg "is not a slam-dunk."

"We have a (application review) process in place that will be rigorous," Finance Minister Stan Struthers said, filling in for Conservation Minister Dave Chomiak, who was unavailable.
The revelation a company is seeking to mine peat in the park has incensed environmental activists as well as cottage and homeowners in the park. At a joint press conference Tuesday, the provincial Liberals, the Green party and two environmentalists condemned the proposed project.

The province has not spoken publicly or released documents outlining its concerns about the proposed Hecla/Grindstone peat mine. The email, written by Conservation department staffer Jessica Elliott to KGS Group, acting for Sun Gro, was contained as an appendix in the company's final draft of its environment licence application in October.

The Western Canada Wilderness Committee's Manitoba office has posted Sun Gro's peat mine licence application on its website. It is also collecting comments from citizens it will forward to the province. The public comment period on Sun Gro's environmental licence application ends Feb. 3.