On August 12, the Manitoba government took the shocking step of authorizing the Dickstone South Road, a LOGGING ROAD that will cut Grass River Provincial Park in half! After spending 8 months trumpeting their legislation to finally end park logging in Grass River Provincial Park and three other parks, this decision to allow the logging road is unethical, against the spirit of the Park Logging ban, and against the wishes of the majority of Manitobans.

On August 19, the Manitoba Liberal Party, the Manitoba Green Party, Manitoba Wildlands, and the Wilderness Committee held a joint news conference to protest this road.

Eric Reder

Wilderness Committee Director Eric Reder spoke about the road license being approved. He quoted the Clean Environment Commission recommendation that the Park Logging Ban is based upon, which states "Commercial forestry activity in all provincial parks should be phased out." In the estimation of the Wilderness Committee, a logging access road is indeed commercial forestry activity, although Conservation Minister Struthers has said otherwise. Mr. Reder also said that the road will traverse areas of the park that are woodland caribou habitat. On the advice of a leading caribou expert, the Wilderness Committee has spent 18 months trying to get the raw data on caribou location in Grass River park. The latest response to over 60 letters being sent to the Manitoba government was a letter from Conservation dated May 9 that states "Manitoba Conservation will not release raw caribou data." This leaves no way to independently review how this road may affect endangered caribou in Grass River.

Gaile Whelan Enns

Gaile Whelan Enns spoke on behalf of Manitoba Wildlands, and expressed grave concerns about the number of developments being worked on in parks that the government keeps saying are protected. A hydro line is being planned for Nopiming Park, development has started at Meditation Lake in Whiteshell Park for a proposed kids camp, and now this logging road has been approved for Grass River. The reality of the situation is that none of these parks are protected, and although logging is supposed to be banned in these parks, it obviously isn't if the current government can authorize this logging road. Manitobans want to see Management Plans for provincial parks, and they want to see their parks protected.

Hounourable Dr. Jon Gerrard

Hounourable Dr. Jon Gerrard spoke as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. He said this road should not be allowed through the habitat of woodland caribou, and endangered species. He said that for the government to allow this road after just passing the Park Logging Ban is pure NDP hypocrisy. He suggested other route options for road improvements which would benefit northern communities such as Sherridan as well as offering shorter hauling routes for logging trucks.

James Beddome

James Beddome spoke as leader of the Manitoba Green Party. He echoed the opinion of the other presenters, that this road should not be allowed, and that much more land in Manitoba needs to be set aside from development. He said that the NDP government and industry statements that this road was necessary to stabilize jobs in the lumber industry is disingenuous, and doesn't reflect the true reality being faced in the forestry industry.