Manitoba Government

A new provincial park at Little Limestone Lake in north-central Manitoba is being proposed and the public is invited to have input in the process from mid-July to late August, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced today.

"Protecting one of the most amazing examples of a marl lake in the world is an important legacy we can leave for future generations," said Blaikie. "Because of its rare geography, Little Limestone Lake stands out among Manitoba lakes for its annual cycle of magnificent colour changes."

With the co-operation of the Moose Lake Resource Management Board, the province is developing a management plan for the proposed park to guide how it will be conserved and protected. This process involves the Mosakahiken Cree Nation, local citizens, industry, interest groups and the general public and will incorporate scientific and traditional knowledge.

Little Limestone Lake is a 15-kilometre body of water in the karst landscape north of Grand Rapids, a limestone region with underground drainage and many cavities and passages caused by the dissolution of the rock. It is referred to as a marl lake as it changes colour when calcite precipitates in the water as its temperature increases in the summer. It is considered to be the best and most outstanding example of a marl lake in the world, the minister said.

Little Limestone Lake Park Reserve was established in 2007. Park reserves provide temporary protection to land while the area is being considered for designation as a provincial park. Under the Provincial Parks Act, public consultation is required to create a permanent designation.

Comment sheets are available at www.manitobaparks.com and can be submitted until Aug. 31. Residents can also mail their input on Little Limestone Lake to Manitoba Conservation, Parks and Natural Areas Branch, Box 53, 200 Saulteaux Cres., Winnipeg, MB R3J 3W3.

More information is also available by calling 945-6797 in Winnipeg or 1-800-214-6497 (toll-free).

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Organized camping and 'camperships' for children in Manitoba have received $63,200 in funding, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau announced today in the lead up to Canada's Parks Day on July 17.

"This year, Canada's Parks Day will recognize the International Year of Biodiversity, a celebration of life on earth and the value of biodiversity.  We're fortunate to live in a place as biologically rich as Manitoba, from the Arctic tundra to the grassland prairies," said Rondeau.  "Camping can instil an appreciation of the environment and love of the outdoors at a young age, which is one of many reasons that we are facilitating safe, organized camps for our kids." 

The Province of Manitoba is providing total support of $40,600 to assist children and their families who do not have the financial means to attend a summer camp. A further $22,600 is being provided to the Manitoba Camping Association for its efforts in co-ordinating and accrediting organized camps across the province to ensure strict standards of safety and quality are met. 

"Going to camp can be a major life experience for a young person as they make new friends, gain new skills and learn about nature," added Rondeau. "I encourage all Manitobans to join us in supporting the Manitoba Camping Association's Sunshine Fund and the Manitoba Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba's Sun Fund – it may just change a young life." 

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Manitoba Conservation's Fire Program is reminding residents of the province to be safe and be careful around all outdoor fires while camping, hiking and enjoying Manitoba's summer.

To date this spring, the program has recorded 133 fires, 128 human caused and five caused by lightning. 

The 3,500-hectare Berens River fire is located approximately 24 kilometres northeast of the Berens River First Nation. Approximately 30 firefighters and one air-tanker group, consisting of two CL-215 water bombers and a spotter or bird-dog aircraft, are battling the west flank of the fire closest to the community.

Weather patterns, lightning strikes, soil moisture and forest conditions are monitored daily to determine the probability and location of wildfires.  The provincial fleet of seven CL-215 water bombers and six contract helicopters will be available as required along with contract single-engine air tankers.

Open fires are prohibited from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually, unless a burning permit is obtained or in enclosed approved fire pits such as campfire grates in provincial campsites.  Fires must be properly put out.  To properly extinguish a fire, water should be poured on the embers and stirred to make a soup or stew-like mixture in the enclosed pit.

To report fires, call 1-800-782-0076.

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Manitoba Conservation reminds the public to avoid picking up or disturbing young wild animals thought to be abandoned, as they are most likely not orphaned.

Each year, many young wild animals are unnecessarily picked up by well-intentioned people and turned in to natural resource officers or wildlife rehabilitators for treatment and rearing. This past mild winter may result in an increase in healthy new young animals and birds.

Adult wildlife must forage to provide food for their newborns, leaving them alone, sometimes for long periods.  The parent is usually nearby and quite aware of their young.  Seeing a young animal on its own does not necessarily mean it is orphaned.

Many people who find fawns mistakenly assume the young deer have been abandoned. Frequent wildlife rescues are of baby deer that are temporarily left in a safe place while their mother feeds nearby.  This behaviour and setting help to mask the fawn's scent, thus providing good protection from the keen nose of a predator.

Other young animals most frequently thought to be orphaned are bear cubs, squirrels, rabbits, racoons and skunks.

Unless the remains of the mother are near the young wild animal, it is best to leave the animal where it was found.  Manitoba Conservation recommends that fawns or other baby animals should not be touched and that people should quietly leave the area.
 Touching the animal may cause the mother to reject it because of human scent.  The best way to help is to allow the adult animals to care for them.

If you are concerned a young animal has been abandoned:

·         Observe the situation for several hours from a distance using binoculars.

·         Do not remain near the young animal as the parents may become afraid and not return to the area.

·         Do not attempt to capture the animal or bird as there is a risk of injury to the animal and it is also illegal to do so under the Wildlife Act.

As well, handling wildlife is not recommended for safety reasons. Wild animals may bite or scratch. Some animals carry rabies or other diseases. If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, wash the wound thoroughly and report to a doctor or call Health Links–Info Santé at 1-888-315-9257 for an assessment of rabies risk and any necessary treatment.

Anyone finding an orphaned animal when the mother is known to be dead should contact the nearest Manitoba Conservation office or The Wildlife Haven:  A Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization at 204-883-2122 or the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at 204-510-1855.

Young people will have the opportunity to get to know their wild neighbours in Beaudry Provincial Park through the provincially supported Robert Bateman Get to Know program, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie said today on Earth Day.

"The program will help introduce young people to the wonders of Manitoba's natural areas through computer and Internet-based resources, and hopefully encourage them to experience parks in person," said Blaikie.  "Greater awareness of our environment will help foster a stronger sense of pride and personal responsibility to the natural world."

The Get to Know virtual hike is designed to provide youth with an opportunity to explore local green spaces such as Beaudry Provincial Park and learn about local wildlife before visiting in person.  The ultimate goal of the project is to raise environmental literacy and awareness in Manitoba schools.

For more than 10 years, the Robert Bateman Get to Know program has connected hundreds of thousands of young people with direct, hands-on learning opportunities through educational initiatives based on current research developed in conjunction with leading educators.  The site can be viewed at http://hikes.gettoknow.ca/beaudry.

The province provided a $25,000 Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF) grant to assist with the project.  SDIF supports a diverse range of projects from research studies and demonstrations of new technology to community enhancement and environmental awareness.  Other targeted funding programs under the SDIF are:
- the Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Fund;
- the Environmental Youth Corps;
- the Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund; and
- the Water Stewardship Fund.

More information on these programs is available at www.susdev.gov.mb.ca.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the first Provincial Parks Act passed by the Manitoba legislature.  Visitors have access to outdoor experiences in a variety of provincial parks that will feature free entry once again this year.
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The Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas will be a comprehensive gathering of information that will help preserve our unique avian populations, said Manitoba Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, Rod Bruinooge.

"The Breeding Bird Atlas will be one of the largest citizen scientist volunteer efforts ever conducted in this province," said Minister Blaikie. "The first project of its kind in this province, Manitobans will be invited to participate in monitoring the abundance and distribution of bird species."

"The Government of Canada is pleased to support Breeding Bird Atlases across Canada. This year, as we celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity - the abundance and variety of life on Earth - we understand that good information and good science are the foundation of good decision-making when it comes to conservation." said MP Bruinooge. "As we take action to protect our natural heritage in Manitoba and across Canada, this project will help to shape future conservation actions for migratory birds and species at risk."

The five-year project will be launched today at FortWhyte Alive. The health, distribution and abundance of bird species that breed throughout Manitoba will be tracked and recorded. The province will be divided into regions, and nature enthusiasts and volunteers will record all birds seen and heard in each on.

The information will help conservation efforts by:

• tracking Manitoba's bird populations;
• identifying local biodiversity hotspots and distribution patterns to update provincial status ranks for birds;
• adding to the Conservation Data Centre's information on rare birds, particularly in under-surveyed areas of the province; and
• contributing to the development of a website with interactive maps in conjunction with Bird Studies Canada that will allow for viewing by a specific region, or by provincewide results for any given species.

In addition, Manitoba Hydro has provided financial support to the project over a five-year period.

Breeding bird atlases have been produced in many European countries and throughout North America. The information will be available for use by scientists, environmental assessors, biologists, municipal planners and students.

The project is a partnership between federal and provincial governments, non-government organizations, private corporations, individual citizens and communities. The steering committee partners include Environment Canada, Manitoba Conservation, Bird Studies Canada, Nature Manitoba, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Manitoba Museum.

"The Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas will build a spirit of environmental co-operation that will leave a lasting legacy for every Manitoban," said Blaikie.

Today's launch at FortWhyte Alive will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information on this project, visit the web at www.birdatlas.mb.ca.

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The U.S. District Court has again ruled in favour of Manitoba in its case against the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) project, Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick announced today.
 
Judge Rosemary Collyer, in her decision issued Friday, March 5, ordered the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to take a "hard look" at the consequences of biota transfer into the Hudson Bay drainage basin and refused to lift her injunction on completion of the project.
 
"The Government of Manitoba is pleased with this ruling," said Melnick.  "We look forward to working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and with North Dakota as they now undertake the necessary work ordered by Judge Collyer."
 
On Oct. 22, 2002, Manitoba filed a legal challenge in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., arguing the NAWS project, one of the Garrison Diversion projects that would divert Missouri River water across the continental divide to the Hudson Bay basin, could cause severe and irreparable harm to Manitoba and had been improperly assessed.
 
In early 2005, Collyer ruled in Manitoba's favour and ordered the U.S. federal government and North Dakota to go back and do a proper assessment of the risks of transfer of harmful biota or invasive species. Since 2005, additional work was undertaken and in 2009, the U.S. federal government and North Dakota returned to the court and asked the injunction on further work be lifted so that the project could proceed. Manitoba and Missouri objected, saying the proper assessment still had not been done as Collyer originally ordered, and the project still placed Manitoba at considerable risk of harm and this harm had not been properly considered.
 
"While the future of the project is still uncertain, today's ruling will assist in achieving adequate measures to protect Manitoba's valuable water including Lake Winnipeg, the world's 10th largest freshwater lake, from the threat of harm posed by invasive species that could be transferred by the NAWS project,"
said Melnick.
 
Manitoba was joined in its lawsuit by the Canadian federal government, Minnesota, Missouri, the U.S. National Wildlife Federation, the Great Lake Environmental Law Centre, the Minnesota Conservation Federation and the South Dakota Wildlife Federation.
 
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Public consultations on a proposed location for the Tim Horton Children's Foundation youth leadership camp near Sylvia Lake in the Whiteshell Provincial Park will be held in February, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie and Tim Horton Children's Foundation vice-president Dave Newnham announced today.

"We are committed to working with Tim Horton Children's Foundation to create a camp for underprivileged Manitoba youth in the Whiteshell," said Blaikie. "We believe Sylvia Lake is a suitable location for the youth camp and we are eager to hear from the public about this proposal."

"The Tim Horton Children's Foundation remains committed to its vision to establish this first-class facility, designed to foster self-confidence and leadership skills in economically disadvantaged youth from communities throughout Manitoba and across the country," said Newnham. "We envision this inspiring new leadership camp to be a source of pride to the local community and look forward to discussing this vision with the public in the weeks ahead."

Public consultations will be held at two locations:

• Whiteshell - Tuesday, Feb. 16, Pinewood Lodge, Dorothy Lake, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and

• Winnipeg - Wednesday, Feb. 17, Canad Inns Polo Park, 1405 St. Matthews Ave., 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This is the second round of public consultations on a proposed site for foundation's youth leadership camp. Reminders about the public meetings will also be advertised.

The proposed camp will provide youth with the opportunity to learn life-long leadership skills in a unique natural environment. The environmentally friendly facility would host youth ages 13 to 17 in an innovative youth leadership summer program.

The proposed facility would provide a variety of educational and environmental programs. Plans for the facility include sleeping capacity for up to 260 young people, a dining hall and several temporary seasonal yurt enclosures.

The Tim Horton Children's Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization providing opportunities for children to develop into positive, contributing members of their communities. It operates six camps in Canada and the U.S., and has provided unique outdoor experiences to more than 120,000 economically disadvantaged children in the past 35 years at no cost to their families.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Premier Greg Selinger today committed the
provincial government to moving forward with legislation enabling
the creation of a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse-gas
emissions in Manitoba.  He said the system will be subject to
public consultations in 2010.

"Manitoba is playing a constructive role in focusing on
commitments, goals and targets that we and other leading
sub-national governments can take," Selinger said.  "Market
mechanisms like cap-and-trade will play a large role in the
global effort to address climate change in a cost-effective
manner.  Cap-and-trade legislation will complement Manitoba's
participation in regional climate-change strategies like the
Western Climate Initiative and Midwestern Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Accord."

Selinger made the announcement at the Climate Leaders Summit
2009, sponsored by The Climate Group, being held in Copenhagen
today as a side-event to the UN Conference on Climate
Change. Selinger was invited to participate along with 60 other
climate-change leaders from sub-national and local governments,
and innovative climate-solution businesses from around the world.

"The Climate Leaders Summit provides an opportunity to share
practical strategies related to clean-energy development,
low-carbon technology and regional co-operation on climate
change," said Selinger.  "These are areas where Manitoba has
taken an early leadership role and they are vitally important for
creating new green economic opportunities for the future."

As part of the Climate Leaders Summit, Selinger is also hosting a
round-table discussion titled Power to the People:  Our Clean
Energy Future.  The session involves close to 20 government and
business participants, speaking on the policies that promote
renewable energy development and expand clean-energy technology
solutions.

"This panel discussion between business and government leaders
will demonstrate how government and industry can work together to
build a low-carbon economy of the future," said Selinger. "These
discussions will help to create momentum at the UN Conference and
motivation for committed long-term actions to reduce emissions."

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