After a spring of record flooding in Manitoba, Ducks Unlimited can’t believe the provincial government is unwilling to protect wetlands throughout the province.
The organization was hoping that Manitoba’s NDP government, elected to a fourth consecutive term in early October, would finally recognize the important role that wetlands play in flood mitigation.
However, the government made no mention of wetlands in its Oct. 20 throne speech outlining priorities for the 40th session of the Manitoba legislature.
“We are disappointed, as will be our 19,000-plus volunteers and supporters,” says Bob Grant, Ducks Unlimited’s manager of provincial operations in Manitoba.
Read Also
VIDEO: The Western Producer Markets Desk crop outlook for 2025
Watch this video for a 10-minute update of Prairie crop conditions and markets. Bruce Burnett, a weather and market analyst…
“Given all the environmental issues that wetlands address, it is somewhat disturbing that a commitment to protecting wetlands was not a key component of the throne speech.”
Nearly three million acres of Manitoba farmland went unseeded this spring because fields were underwater. In addition, dozens of cattle ranchers around Lake Manitoba were forced to move their herds because of record water levels on the lake.
The provincial government spent hundreds of millions of dollars on flood mitigation in 2011 and hundreds of millions in compensation to landowners.
With flooding and flood compensation dominating the headlines in Manitoba, Ducks Unlimited used the opportunity to stress the importance of wetland preservation during the provincial election campaign.
“It’s really taken this flood to put some political weight behind it. People are starting to connect the dots,” Grant said. “This was a huge flood here and wetland drainage over the years (definitely) contributed to it.”
Producers may have resisted the idea of preserving wetlands on farmland a decade ago, he added, but organizations such as Keystone Agricultural Producers and Manitoba Beef Producers are now on side.
“KAP and us are talking the same language these days on a lot of things… (such as) incenting landowners to protect wetlands on their property.”
Ducks Unlimited would like the Manitoba government to pass legislation that protects wetlands and uses financial incentives to encourage farmers to maintain wetlands.
Grant said New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have developed comprehensive policies around wetlands, and Alberta is making progress on its provincial wetlands policy.
The Manitoba throne speech did mention water policy.
The government said it would “develop a surface-water management strategy to help deal with flooding and reduce the pollution that is killing our lakes.”
Manitoba agriculture minister Stan Struthers said wetlands would be part of the conversation.
