“I want to enhance their camping experience whether they are using social networks to check in and post pictures of themselves in our beautifully diverse provincial parks, check weather forecasts or do other online errands while enjoying time away.”

Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park has three Wi-Fi hotspots operating now and nine new WiFi hotspots in Birds Hill and Falcon Beach provincial parks will come online over the next two weeks, the minister said.  Campers will receive passwords and coverage maps when they check in at campground offices.

Other new investments this year include upgrades to washrooms and showers in Birds Hill, Hnausa, Rainbow Beach and Manipogo provincial parks, and six new yurts at Childs Lake Provincial Park.

The minister noted repairs at campgrounds affected by the 2011 flood continue including work at St. Ambroise and Watchorn provincial parks, and the lower Kiche Manitou campground at Spruce Woods Provincial Park.  The Kiche Manitou lower campground will open June 28 and every effort is being made to offer day-use recreation at St. Ambroise Provincial Park later this summer, Mackintosh said.  Black Lake campground in Nopiming Provincial Park also experienced wind damage last fall, delaying the opening of the campground until June 22.

Manitobans are also reminded the May long weekend will be liquor free in all campgrounds, group-use areas and yurts, as well as cabins at Camp Morton and Hecla/Grindstone provincial parks.

Some liquor-free campsites will be available all season in designated spots at Grand Beach and Birds Hill provincial parks.  The sites are bays six, nine and 10 at Grand Beach, and Oriole and Grackle bays at Birds Hill.

Approximately 30,000 campsites have been booked through the made-in-Manitoba Parks Reservation Service so far this year, but many camping opportunities remain available at campgrounds across the province throughout the season.  To make a reservation, visit www.manitobaparks.com.

The minister noted parks investments and expansions support priorities outlined in Building the Parks Province:  Manitoba’s Parks Strategy, a review and public consultation document that outlines changes designed to strengthen the province’s parks system.

“Parks provide opportunities for a broad range of activities in the great outdoors that can create wonderful memories of good times with family and friends,” said Mackintosh.  “We want Manitobans to tell us about their thoughts on the future of parks and what more can be done to protect and enhance parks for the future.”

For information on how to send your advice and comments about the strategy before June 1, visit www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parksstrategy/index.html.

Government of Manitoba – May 16, 2013

Levels of sulphur dioxide emissions are down 44 per cent and nitrogen oxides are down 10 per cent.

“This decrease is largely attributed to the closure of the HudBay Minerals Inc. base metal copper smelter in Flin Flon,” said the report.

That closure cost more than 200 jobs but it also prevented 185 kilotons of sulphur dioxide from entering the local atmosphere every year. When Vale Inco closes its nickel smelter in Thompson in two years, another 185 kilotonnes of SO2 emissions will be saved, making Manitoba effectively free of acid-rain-producing industries.

A previous progress report based on 2006 data identified acid-rain hot spots in northern Manitoba, especially around Flin Flon and Thompson, but also along the northern half of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border. Those hot spots are where sulphur and nitrogen deposits exceeded, sometimes dramatically, what scientists believe the local ecosystem can handle.

Manitoba’s acid-rain problem is nowhere near as serious or as widespread as in the highly industrialized regions in southern Ontario, but it’s still at odds with the perception of northern Manitoba as a pristine wilderness.

Now there is some concern among environmental groups booming oilsands development in Alberta may be the next source of acid rain, especially in Western Canada.

There is no scientific evidence linking the oilsands to acid rain in Manitoba but the province is working with Environment Canada to set up an extra acid-rain monitoring station north of Lake Winnipeg to test for mercury and other air pollutants that may originate in the Alberta oilsands. It is still in the preliminary stages but the new monitoring station would be the eastern-most station meant to ensure oilsands emissions aren’t causing problems downwind.

“You have to be vigilant,” said Laurie Streich, director of environmental programs and strategies at Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship. “These pollutants can be transferred long distances.”

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca

Starting tomorrow, Manitobans are invited to go online and nominate a fish at www.manitobafisheries.com.  The nomination process will allow Manitobans to select a fish species and encourages them to share personal stories and explain why their fish of choice should be the provincial fish.  Nominations will be reviewed by a committee of volunteers who share a passion for fishing in the province.  The committee will recommend the top two species to government for a final decision.

Manitoba has the third most diverse freshwater fish population of all provinces and the minister said more than 80 of Manitoba’s native fish will be considered as candidates.  The deadline for nominations is Feb. 1, 2014.

The committee will also award 20 complimentary fishing licences for next year’s season to those who submit the most compelling personal stories and the top three will also be posted online and in Manitoba’s angling guide.

“Fishing is very important to Manitoba, both from a recreational and commercial perspective.  We have a great resource and I am glad the province is recognizing it with this initiative,” said Don Lamont, professional angler and committee chair.  “Anything we can do as a province to promote and protect this resource is welcomed.”

Once selected, the provincial fish will be proposed for official adoption as an amendment to the Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Act, Mackintosh said.  The provincial flower is the prairie crocus (adopted in 1906), the provincial bird is the great gray owl (1987), the provincial tree is the white spruce (1991) and the provincial soil is Newdale soil (2010).  The province unofficially recognizes the bison as the provincial animal.

The minister said the new official fish will also become prominent in tourism advertising and fishing publications to remind Manitobans and visitors of the thrilling fishing opportunities that are theirs to pursue in the province.

“Too often, we take the incredible fisheries resources in our province for granted.  This program will allow Manitobans who are passionate about our fisheries to share that passion through a compelling story about their favourite species,” said David Carrick of Fish Futures.  “Regardless of which species is ultimately chosen as the provincial fish, it will become a symbol for all of our fisheries, and provide Manitoba with a terrific opportunity to further brand the province as both a fishing destination and a jurisdiction that cherishes its fisheries resources.”

Many other jurisdictions have official fish including British Columbia (pacific salmon), Alberta (bull trout), Saskatchewan (walleye), Northwest Territories (arctic grayling), Minnesota (walleye) and North Dakota (northern pike).

The minister noted this process builds on TomorrowNow – Manitoba’s Green Plan, to establish the province as an eco-learning capital.  TomorrowNow is an eight-year strategic action plan for mobilizing Manitobans to work together to protect the environment while ensuring a prosperous and environmentally-conscious economy.  For more information on TomorrowNow, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/tomorrownowgreenplan/.

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WELL-KNOWN FISH SPECIES OF MANITOBA

Government of Manitoba – May 10, 2013

The conservation measures allow for a limited harvest for food by Aboriginal rights holders of six walleye per person each day on Dauphin Lake and its tributaries.  Harvest can occur only by angling with rod and reel.  The temporary conservation measures require the release of all female walleye that have not yet spawned, along with the release of all walleye of prime spawning size (between 45 and 70 centimetres).

This year’s measures will protect walleye during this critical part of their lifecycle and will ensure the continued recovery of the Dauphin Lake walleye population.

These steps are in addition to existing measures implemented over the past number of years such as reductions in the commercial harvest of walleye from Dauphin Lake, reductions of the daily catch limit of walleye for anglers and requiring all spawning-sized walleye to be released.

Discussions continue between the province and First Nations and Métis communities in the region on many natural resource management issues of joint concern.

Anishinaabe Agowidiiwinan (Treaty 2 elders) urge all fishers not to fish at all during this sensitive stage of walleye spawning.

Government of Manitoba – May 3, 2013

Manitoba today will be the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce legislation that would protect essential habitats for endangered plants and wildlife, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh said, marking Earth Day 2013.  “The destruction or loss of habitat leads to plants and wildlife becoming threatened or endangered,” said Mackintosh.  “This new legislation will allow us to better protect an ecosystem at risk, rather than only identifying the threatened or endangered species found in it.”

The province will introduce legislative amendments that would create the endangered species and ecosystem act.  The proposed act would be the first legislation in North America to allow the listing of ecosystems as endangered or threatened and protect them on provincial Crown land.

The proposed amendments would also:

• create a new designation called ‘special concern’ for species at risk of becoming threatened in Manitoba and requiring plans to prevent these species from further loss,
• expand the role of the Endangered Species Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on endangered or threatened ecosystems,
• add protection orders that empower conservation officials to pre-emptively stop activities that would endanger habitat and ecosystems, and
• increase fines and penalties for violations under the legislation.

The minister noted Manitoba follows the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s standard criteria for assessing the status of species at risk in Manitoba.

“The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) strongly supports the Government of Manitoba in its plans to introduce legislation providing for the listing of endangered and threatened ecosystems,” said George Greene, regional councillor for North America and the Caribbean, IUCN.  “We are pleased to know that Manitoba’s actions are inspired by IUCN’s work on the Red List of Ecosystems to establish a global standard to assess the status of ecosystems at the local, provincial, national, regional and global levels.”

The province will introduce first-in-Canada legislation that would create a provincial heritage tree program in partnership with the Manitoba Forestry to recognize and protect trees that have environmental, cultural, social and historic importance to all Manitobans, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.  “All trees are an important part of our communities, but some are exceptional and irreplaceable, and deserve stronger protection,” said Mackintosh.  “This new initiative will allow Manitobans to nominate a tree or group of trees so future generations can also enjoy their beauty and importance.”

The program would be created by amendments to the Forest Health Protection Act including additional protection measures for designated heritage trees located on Crown land to prevent their removal for reasons other than health or safety.  In addition to the new proposed protection, the department would develop an online and physical plaque program and seek private sponsor funding opportunities for designated trees.

The new legislation would establish a committee to develop criteria, review applications and make recommendations on trees that could be designated as heritage trees.  The new program would be managed in co-operation with the Manitoba Forestry Association.

“Whether natural or planted, there are many exceptional trees in the province that stand out in the landscape,” said Patricia Pohrebniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Forestry Association.  “We are pleased to work with the province to build on our ongoing heritage trees program and encourage Manitobans to become more aware of and interested in trees.”

All potentially significant trees could be considered for nomination.  The designation process would consider any landowner concerns before a tree receives heritage tree status.

The minister noted the program would provide protection of significant trees on Crown land and also would promote the protection of trees on municipal or private land through bylaws or caveats the landowners choose to put in place.

“Whether in urban or rural areas, we must all work together to protect our forests and trees for the future,” said Mackintosh.  “This program will engage Manitobans and encourage them to look at forests in new ways.”

The minister noted the introduction of the legislation meets a commitment to create a heritage tree program made in TomorrowNow – Manitoba’s Green Plan, the province’s eight-year strategic plan for protecting the environment while ensuring a prosperous and environmentally conscious economy.

For more information on TomorrowNow, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/tomorrownowgreenplan/.

Government of Manitoba – April 29, 2013

Two other measures that the government says are designed to encourage compliance with firearms regulations will be extended by one year, however.

Gun owners who let their possession-only licences expire have been allowed to re-apply since 2008 without having to pay to go through a firearms safety course, as the regulations require. That break continues to May 2014.

And an amnesty on criminal charges for failing to licence or register non-restricted weapons for people “who were taking steps to comply with these requirements” has also been extended.

Attempt to ‘encourage compliance’

The Canada Gazette notes that although the long-gun registry was ended by legislation last year, it remains in effect by court order in Quebec. And the amnesty provisions are pitched as a means of keeping Quebecers registering those rifles and shotguns.

“Accordingly, the extension of the Amnesty Order would encourage compliance by owners of non-restricted firearms with the licensing requirements across Canada, and in Quebec, with the registration of non-restricted firearms,” states the government document.

The Conservatives ended the long-gun registry last spring for a savings of about $2 million annually, a figure confirmed in documents prepared for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews but never publicized by the government.

Last September the Conservatives began phasing back in the higher $80 licence fee for restricted and prohibited weapons that had been waived.

In May 2012 Conservative MP Candice Bergen told the House of Commons that the fee waivers were being phased out, but she framed it as the government providing “extra time” for people to renew their five-year licences at no cost.

“This is good news for law-abiding gun owners and good news for taxpayers,” she said at the time.

According to the Canada Gazette, non-restricted gun licences alone are expected to bring in $18 million in additional revenue each year.