November 04, 2002

CHURCHILL, Man.—Today, the province announced enhanced protection of Manitoba polar bears and their habitat through stronger regulations under a new Resource Tourism Operators Act and new online Polar Bear education and awareness tools.

Making the announcement today at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Conservation Minister Steve Ashton also called for continued federal-provincial action to ratify Kyoto and tackle issues around climate change.

"The Resource Tourism Operators Act requires that businesses providing hunting, fishing and outdoor adventure tourism at lodges, out-camps and in organized excursions by canoe, horseback, hiking and other means on public lands are required to be licensed," said Ashton. "Illegal operations and substandard facilities threaten the sustainability of eco-tourism—one of Manitoba’s most valuable and growing industries."

"Health and environmental benefits for Canadians through emissions reductions in Canada are one of Manitoba’s key expectations for the federal strategy to implement Kyoto," said Ashton. "We cannot ignore the environmental impacts of climate change and the cost of doing nothing to ratify Kyoto."

Requirements under the new act include:

• fines of up to $10,000 for an individual and/or six months in jail, and $20,000 for a corporation, up from the previous $200 for individuals and $500 for corporations;
• licensing of outfitters, the services they provide and facilities that use fish, wildlife and scenic resources such as provincial parks; and
• licensing of eco-tourism operations now in the same manner as outfitters and an acknowledgement of the differences between the two types of operation.

"As part of our government's Northern Development Strategy, we are committed to strengthening the economic development opportunities that the eco-tourism industry provides, but in a sustainable way," said Ashton.

"Polar bear protection and ongoing education and awareness of the impact of eco-tourism operations on this precious northern species is a top priority for a team of university researchers, local tourism operators, government staff and wildlife conservation groups who gathered in Churchill recently," said Ashton. "We must all continue to work together to ensure this unique animal and its habitat are here for future generations to appreciate."

Ashton noted that bear condition and productivity has declined steadily over the last decade. Fall weight of all age classes for both sexes declined, and a steady decline was seen in spring weight of adult females leaving the denning area with cubs. Researchers continue to investigate the trend.

Up-to-date information on polar bears, such as Manitoba’s Polar Bear Protection Act, the animal’s habitat and migration background as well as links to a variety of animal educational organizations, is now available through the Manitoba government Web site at http://www.gov.mb.ca/polarbears.

Ashton also acknowledged the work of organizations such as Polar Bear International (PBI) that provides viewing of this year’s polar bear migration in Churchill through Webcasts on the PBI Web site at http://www.polarbearsinternational.org. Through to Nov. 15, special night vision equipment will provide live images of the bears to viewers worldwide from Gordon Point in Northern Manitoba—one of their favourite gathering spots.

Ashton noted that, following concerns raised last year around the condition and treatment of polar bears in a Mexican Circus touring Puerto Rico, the Manitoba government recently passed the Polar Bear Protection Act to ensure the humane treatment and care of Manitoba polar bears.

Approximately 1,200 polar bears live in the western Hudson Bay area with just under 15,000 Canada-wide. There are 525 licensed outfitters operating in the province, contributing an estimated $90 million annually to the provincial economy.

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