| A Rally for Peat's Sake - International Wetlands Day | 6 February 12 |
About 80 people assembled outside the Manitoba Legislature on World Wetlands Day February 2, 2012 to speak up "For Peat's Sake". Representatives from leading conservation groups and the Manitoba Liberal and Green parties talked about the value of wetlands, and expressed concern with the expanding peat mining industry in Manitoba.Three peat mines have been issued environmental licences despite a new law, The Save Lake Winnipeg Act, which the government promised would "stop the rapid expansion of the peat industry in Manitoba," and also despite objections from inside Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship departments. Two of these three environmental licenses are being appealed. A fourth environmental license proposal to strip-mine peat bogs inside Hecla / Grindstone provincial park is being reviewed by Manitoba Conservation Environmental Assessment and Licensing Branch., with public comments closing February 3, 2012. These new peat mines are ringing the south basin of Lake Winnipeg. "Well, those peat mine licences were based on rights that existed, going back many years. Should there be even a broader pause? That's a question that is at hand," said Manitoba Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh. The Government of Manitoba promises public consultations on a new peat lands management strategy will start before the end of February 2012. View February 2, 2012 Wilderness Committee For Peat's Sake - A gathering to celebrate World Wetlands Day pageWatch February 2, 2012 CBC video coverage  View February 2, 2012 CBC coverage View January 30, 2012 Winnipeg Free Press article View January 23, 2012 Nature Manitoba submission to Manitoba Conservation Environmental Licensing and Assessment Branch View Manitoba Wildlands Peat Mining in Manitoba page |
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