"Easily the biggest improvement in Whiteshell Provincial Park history was the ban on industrial logging that finally occurred in 2009," said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee. "Nearly half of Whiteshell--47%--is still open for mining and mineral exploration activity and other development. Manitoba provincial parks need to be "improved" so that they are protected areas, like parks across Canada."

Manitobans, when asked, have overwhelmingly supported more park protection, but the Manitoba government needs to be dragged towards proper protection for Whiteshell Park. From 2009, Manitobans have been waiting to see some of the area around Meditation Lake protected. In fact, protection for these lands and waters in Whiteshell Park has been the subject of at least three government news releases--the latest in March of this year--but it still hasn't happened.