The Wilderness Committee congratulates Bill Blaikie, MLA for Elmwood, for being selected to the important post of Manitoba conservation minister. The Wilderness Committee also congratulates Rob Altemeyer, MLA for Wolseley, for being named conservation legislative assistant.

Both MLAs have activist roots, and the Wilderness Committee hopes this translates into the Conservation department closely following the expressed wishes of Manitobans, who themselves actively speak out for better environmental protections.

The Wilderness Committee reminds the new conservation minister of a pressing concern that needs to be addressed quickly: the logging activity authorized for Grass River Provincial Park.

"With a new team of government officials in place, we expect the license for logging activity in Grass River Provincial Park will be immediately reviewed and revoked, as a majority of Manitobans that have spoken up have requested." said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

Protecting more Manitoba lands and waters for future generations is a major portion of the work that should be done in the Conservation branch, yet it has scarcely happened in the last 10 years of this government. Instead of more protected areas, long-term contracts to give corporations control over huge tracts of public lands are currently being renewed.

"We hope that Mr. Blaikie's wealth of political experience will help him as he begins to wrest our public lands out of corporate control," said Reder. "Manitobans value their parks and wilderness, and we expect Mr. Blaikie will do a better job of permanently protecting our rich natural heritage."

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The full release is available on the Province of Manitoba website.

For more information please contact: Eric Reder, Manitoba Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee, (204) 997-8584.