SIEMENS SAYS: A need for balanced policies, rural Manitoba landowners speak up

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Dan Mazier, Conservative MP for Dauphin, Swan River, Neepawa and Shadow Minister of Rural Economic Development, recently met with Oak River landowners who voiced deep concerns about the impact of federal environmental policies on rural life.

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Calling out Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s initiatives as “disconnected from the realities of rural Canada,” Mazier highlighted the fear and frustration among landowners regarding ecological corridors and other measures. He pledged to bring these concerns to Ottawa, stressing the growing divide between urban-driven policies and rural livelihoods. “These so-called environmental initiatives are actively harming the communities rural Canadians depend on for their way of life,” Mazier tweeted.

That was the first I’d heard of it, but it didn’t take long for more information to come my way. I received a call from a landowner in Rivers, who confirmed the concerns and shared his own. He also pointed me toward the Manitoba Wildlife Federation and Rob Olson, who were already leading on this issue.

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From there, things moved quickly. By September, the momentum had built and the fight was underway. In November, the Manitoba Wildlife Federation held three preliminary town hall meetings in Brandon, Pilot Mound, and Portage la Prairie to raise awareness.

Rob Olson of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation said the goal was to inform hunters, anglers, agricultural producers, cottage owners, and workers in forestry and mining about the new and significant threats to their access to Crown land and resources.

“These threats stem from the government’s one-sided approach to allocating access to those Crown resources,” Olson said. It’s essential to ensure everyone who depends on these resources understands the challenges ahead and has a platform to voice their concerns.

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The meetings aim to bring affected communities together to discuss practical solutions and advocate for balanced policies that respect the needs of all stakeholders.

Olson said the three larger centre meetings, Brandon, Pilot Mound, and Portage la Prairie, saw strong attendance, particularly from agricultural and beef producers who shared valuable insights and raised pressing concerns.

“A big topic of discussion was access to crown land for grazing,” Olson noted. The beef industry increasingly depends on crown land for grazing and haying, especially with rising land prices and more land becoming crop agriculture.

The meetings provided a productive platform for producers to voice these concerns and engage in meaningful dialogue about their industry’s challenges. Olson delved into emerging concerns like land access issues and transparency in the decision-making processes.

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In Portage, one farmer raised an issue about when a parent in a cattle-producing family wants to pass their haying or grazing lease on crown land to their children — it’s more complex. The land is now first considered for Indigenous use or possibly treaty land entitlement. “That’s a potential shift, and we’re trying to track the details.”

Olson noted that agricultural producers’ consistent turnout and engagement were terrific — large crowds, full rooms, and many questions. There’s a real sense of surprise among attendees, however. Many don’t fully understand land use decisions and want more transparency from provincial and federal governments about how people share resources across Manitoba.

Despite this uncertainty, Olson emphasized the general support for governments collaborating positively with Indigenous communities.

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“There’s big support for that,” he said. “But people don’t want to be left behind in the process, and right now, they feel that way.”

The growing interest in the town halls has been remarkable.

“When we finished up in Pilot Mound, we had requests from 15 to 20 more towns asking us to come,” Olson said. “Winnipeg residents are also asking why we’re not there. It’s exploded. We’re scrambling to keep up, but it’s a good problem to have. People want to know more, and there’s a lot of interest.”

Regarding the MWF’s next steps, Olson said it is important to take a strategic pause to reflect on the progress made through their recent town hall meetings.

“We’ve agreed to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve done here, consolidate all the notes from the discussions, and create a report for our members and everyone involved.”

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This pause will help MWF better understand the unprecedented level of engagement they’ve witnessed and plan for the future.

Olson explained that MWF is enhancing its organizational capabilities as part of its regrouping process.

“We’re working on a relaunch of our website to host better this movement, which has become something of a phenomenon.”

Olson anticipates reigniting efforts in January, focusing on Winnipeg’s high interest while revisiting previously engaged communities.

“We’ll expand into Winnipeg and build on the foundation we’ve established,” he said, aiming to foster continued dialogue and engagement across the province.

In addition to these public meetings, the MWF had a significant week in court, focusing on a judicial review of the province’s decision to cut moose tags. While the initial case revolved around hunting regulations, the broader conversation now centers on who controls Manitoba’s natural resources.

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Olson said the meetings helped grow MWF’s membership and financial support, noting increased donations for their legal efforts. “We must show up in courtrooms, participate, and find a fair middle ground between all parties.”

The issue resonates beyond hunters, affecting agricultural producers, anglers, cottage owners, snowmobilers, and foresters — all groups excluded from resource allocation discussions by provincial and federal governments. “These people are realizing they’re in the same boat,” Olson said. They understand that sticking together is their best chance of the government hearing them.”

Olson commended the leadership role MWF has assumed, drawing attention from various groups. “Any one of these organizations could have led this effort, but the world was looking for leadership, and the MWF stepped up,” he concluded, underscoring the growing unity among stakeholders seeking inclusion in policy-making.

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There’s a growing sense of frustration over what many see as an over-correction in addressing Indigenous issues. While there’s widespread acknowledgment that governments must do better for and with Indigenous communities, there’s also concern about leaving others behind in the process. This frustration spans across many sectors.

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation has stepped up to lead these conversations, but the need for leadership was clear — it simply required someone to call the meeting and get people talking. Moving forward, there’s a desire to engage more directly with Indigenous communities in the next phase. Plans are already in motion to focus more energy on this in the new year, with the hope for meaningful progress.

— Harry Siemens is a farm journalist, podcaster, speaker, writer and communicator

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

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