News Release

Elimination of environmental voice in Manitoba government is regressive and misguided

WINNIPEG - The Wilderness Committee is calling out the newly elected Manitoba government for eliminating the Conservation Minister, a decision which was announced when Premier Brian Pallister was sworn in today.

“How does a government axe the Conservation Minister when scientists are constantly telling us our inaction on conservation is leading to a damaged environment and a compromised life for us?” asked Eric Reder, Manitoba Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

It is a big concern for the Wilderness Committee that protection of the environment doesn’t appear to be a priority for the Manitoba government.

“Three weeks in, this is a red flag. It appears that protection for fresh air, nature, and clean water that Manitobans value may not be a priority for this government,” said Reder.

The Department of the Environment was established in Manitoba in the 1980s, when the world was understanding that human activity was having widespread and detrimental impacts on the environment. They realized that development was at odds with conservation, therefore a separate department was needed to ensure the best actions for the environment were addressed. It eventually became the Department of Conservation and Water Stewardship.

“The removal of a cabinet voice for conservation and the environment feels a lot like the dark days of the previous federal government as they gutted the Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act and tried to silence environmental charities,” said Reder.

The Wilderness Committee believes that a strong cabinet voice for conservation is essential in all major decisions in the province. Removing a minister responsible for conserving freshwater, wildlife populations and growing provincial parks will negatively affect Manitobans’ standard of living.

“Maybe our new Premier could learn a lesson from other jurisdictions. Costa Rica didn’t get to 27 per cent protected area by eliminating conservation,” said Reder.

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For more information, please contact:

Eric Reder | Manitoba Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
204-997-8584,  eric@wildernesscommittee.org