"We thought it was important to plan several years out to have a road map, a blueprint to see how we allocated resources as well, so Manitobans know how the pieces fit together," said Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh.

The announcement was made in the Winnipeg Free Press. No Government of Manitoba press release was issued. Nothing is available on the Conservation and Water Stewardship departmental website.

"We hope that the minister means he will be releasing some kind of draft plan for Manitoba's environment this summer - and then have public meetings and review so that Manitobans will have their say. A plan written inside government needs Manitoban input. There are also regulatory matters that need attention. One example is the lack of any environmental assessment regulation in Manitoba."

Kristina Hunter, a environment and geography professor at the University if Manitoba's and vice-chairperson of the Manitoba Roundtable on Sustainable Development, said she would love to see the province get more aggressive on urban planning, to encourage the creation of denser, more walkable communities instead of sprawl. "That's a real void, in my estimation," said Hunter.