Background:
The Seal River Watershed (SRW) in northern Manitoba spans more than 50,000 square kilometres, representing approximately 8% of the province. Since 2019, four First Nations came together to form the Seal River Watershed Alliance (the Alliance) to advance protection of the area.
Seal River Watershed Proposal:
A formal proposal has now been released, declaring the entire Seal River Watershed (49,779 km²) an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) under a “mosaic” model, which includes the potential establishment of both a national park and a new provincial park. The proposal is currently in the consultation phase, with governments seeking public input before any final decisions are made.
The Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) recognizes positive elements in the proposal but has serious questions regarding governance and long-term authority, as well as major concerns about the elimination of licensed hunting in the proposed national park.
The full SRW proposal can be found here. MWF has reviewed the proposal and offers the following position on behalf of its members and licensed hunters and anglers across Manitoba.
1. Proposed National Park
MWF does not support the proposed national park designation within the Seal River Watershed. The transition of approximately 18,500 km² (one-third of the project area) of provincial crown land to the federal government represents a significant and unnecessary loss of management authority over provincial public land to Ottawa and will result in the permanent loss of licensed hunting and outfitting opportunities in that area.
The proposed 10-year phase-out of hunting and outfitting under the Canada National Parks Act will remove long-standing public access for only licensed hunters and while still allowing First Nations hunting. This approach is inconsistent with preferences identified by Manitobans through Leger polling, which showed staunch support for maintaining hunting access in protected areas (87%) and for keeping protected lands under provincial responsibility and control (64%). Only 15% of Manitobans support transferring provincial Crown lands to the federal government.
2. Provincial Park Designation
MWF is encouraged by the proposal to designate two-thirds of the project area (31,000 km²) as a new provincial park that would remain open to licensed hunting, angling, and outfitting.
3. Delegation of Management Authority to Single Board
The proposal to create an appointed management board to oversee both the national and provincial park components is problematic. The lack of clarity regarding the board’s composition, mandate, and decision-making authority creates concern that the federal government will have influence over provincial land-use decisions, including those related to harvest management and public access.
MWF maintains that the Government of Manitoba must retain full authority over wildlife management within the province, including setting seasons, allocating tags, enforcing regulations, and determining harvest rules.
Adopting this management structure would also establish a precedent for future protected areas in Manitoba, potentially reshaping natural resource governance and weakening provincial control over Crown lands more broadly.
4. Inclusion of Hunters and Outfitters in Governance
MWF strongly asserts that licensed hunters, anglers, and outfitters must have formal and meaningful representation on any management board established for the Seal River Watershed. Those who use and help steward the landscape should also have a direct voice in recommendations made to the province on access, harvest opportunities, and long-term management.
MWFs Summary Position
MWF remains committed to a balanced, transparent, and accountable approach to conservation in the Seal River Watershed. We recognize the importance of further protecting this landscape and support continued collaboration with Indigenous, provincial, and federal partners to achieve shared conservation goals.
At the same time, significant and serious questions remain regarding the proposal’s governance, long-term authority, and the potential loss of public access under the proposed model. MWF cannot support an approach that excludes responsible public use or shifts ownership and control of provincial crown lands to the federal government without clear accountability and transparency.
MWF will encourage governments to revisit the proposal with the following recommendations:
- Develop a Made in Manitoba proposal by using provincial mechanisms – Provincial Park and Wildlife Management Area designations – to protect the Seal River Watershed. There is no need for national park designation to better protect this watershed, and handing responsibility for this vast area of provincial public land to Ottawa will compromise public access to 18,500 km² of the province. Manitobans overwhelmingly favour provincial management of provincial lands.
- If a national park must be included, its footprint should be minimized, while provincial parks remain under provincial control with the provincial Minister accountable for access decisions. The joint management board should not have the authority to impose federal restrictions on access to provincial parks.
- If a single management board is kept as part of the final proposal, MWF urges that decisions be advisory only to the provincial Minister and include equal representation from all provincial stakeholders.
Our objectives in the end are to ensure that conservation efforts protect ecosystems while maintaining public access, respecting Indigenous rights, and preserving provincial authority over land and wildlife management. Protecting the watershed must go hand in hand with maintaining the role of all Manitobans who use, treasure, and steward it.
We encourage all our members to provide these recommendations and feedback through Engage Manitoba during the brief consultation period (deadline to comment is June 2, 2026).
Engage Manitoba Website: https://engagemb.ca/
