Another government request for public input has come up, this one to do with the Fisher Bay (Ochiwasahow) park reserve. The Manitoba government's Protected Areas Initiative department has sent out a pamphlet and questionnaire about plans to change the boundaries of the park reserve. The due date for public input is May 30, 2008.

There are four serious concerns with this development.

First, the Fisher River Cree Nation, whose traditional territory makes up the park reserve and who have been working with government for years to have this area permanently protected, was not even told that a public consultation brochure was being released. This is an insult to a community that is trying to build a better future for all Manitobans.

Second, the general public has not provided with full information about the park reserve. An enlarged park reserve boundary was proposed by the FRCN last year, based upon a comprehensive ecological and cultural land usage study. This proposed park reserve boundary was not even mentioned in the new boundary adjustment put forth by the Manitoba government.

Third, the Fisher Bay park reserve has been in temporary protection for many years. The provincial government should be moving forward with full and permanent protection of this area, as requested by the FRCN. The provincial government is clearly not putting enough effort into protecting more of Manitoba, as they so often claim that they do.

Finally, the time frame allotted for public comment is insufficient, and the Wilderness Committee has been repeatedly asking the government to allow more time for the public to make comments on important land use decisions. There was also no formal announcement in any public forum of the consultation period—no news releases were sent out, nor were advertisements posted in newspapers. While a letter was sent to environmental groups last week, it wasn't until late last Friday that the Conservation department posted the public consultation documents to the government website.

What is required of you right now is for you to email the government your opinion about having the Fisher Bay park reserve become a new provincial park, with the boundaries proposed by the Fisher River Cree Nation. Please use the link below to do so.