Concerns are mounting over potential impacts to hunting, fishing and outfitting as discussions continue around the proposed Seal River National Park Reserve in northern Manitoba.
During a March 12 meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, Morden–Winkler MLA Brandon Leslie questioned federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin about whether traditional activities would remain permitted if the project moves forward.
Leslie said hunters, anglers and outfitters are worried they could lose access to the area, and in some cases their livelihoods, under a national park designation.
“Will you guarantee that no Canadian would be banned from continuing to hunt or fish if this proposed national park moves ahead?” Leslie asked.
Dabrusin did not provide a firm guarantee, but said the proposed park is being developed in partnership with the Manitoba government and includes ongoing consultation with stakeholders.
“We have a very strong relationship with the province of Manitoba, making sure that people and stakeholders, that includes the hunters in the area, are all being consulted and included in these conversations,” she said.
Leslie pressed further, asking whether the minister could confirm that existing lodges and outfitters would not be forced to shut down.
Dabrusin said the project is still in development, but indicated she does not expect access to be restricted.
“My understanding… is that access is not a problem and that there is going to be access,” she said, adding more detailed information would be available as the proposal advances.
Leslie challenged the response, calling for a clearer commitment.
“Well, not believing and saying confidently… that it will not be a problem are two different things,” he said.
The exchange comes as the Manitoba Wildlife Federation is calling on the federal government to pause the proposal until more detailed information is made public.
In a letter to Dabrusin, the organization cited concerns about transparency, governance and potential impacts on public access, saying stakeholders have not been given a clear picture of how the park would be managed.
Managing director Carly Deacon said key elements of the proposal including governance and implementation, remain unclear.
“Despite our many requests… we have yet to see any details of what is being proposed,” she said.
The federation also raised concerns about the potential for changes to how the area is managed, including whether public access for activities such as hunting and fishing could be affected.
The Seal River watershed spans roughly 50,000 square kilometres of provincial Crown land, stretching from the Nunavut border south toward South Indian Lake and from Lac Brochet east to Hudson Bay. Portions of the region are already protected, while the remainder is currently subject to provincial permitting and licensing.
Dabrusin said a draft consultation document is forthcoming and acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders will be part of ongoing discussions.
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Mar 25, 2026 at 09:52
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