Clear Lake coalition seeks judicial review of Parks Canada's sudden ‘gut punch' decision banning power boats
Cottagers and businesses at Riding Mountain National Park are asking for a judicial review of a decision by the federal park's superintendent to ban motorboats on Clear Lake just weeks after giving them the green light.
In a notice of application to the Federal Court of Canada, filed earlier this week by several organizations and individuals, including Clear Lake Country Destination Marketing Organization, Clear Lake Cottage Owners Association and Clear Lake Country Boat and RV Storage, are asking a judge to declare the decision was 'invalid or unlawful' and allow motorboats back on the lake.
But Jason Potter, president of the Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the four founding organizations of Fairness for Clear Lake, said the ban changes what has been lake life there for decades.
Earlier this year, Parks Canada said the pier at Clear Lake was expected to reopen fully this summer. (Connor McDowell / Brandon Sun files)
'It was a complete shock and a gut punch,' Potter said of the May decision that reversed an announcement in January allowing powered boats on the water.
'Right away we want the boats. We want people to enjoy Clear Lake like they have for generations. We also want Parks Canada to be fair and accessible to us — we hadn't heard anything before this decision was made.'
No one with Parks Canada could be reached for comment.
Last summer, powered boats were banned following the discovery of zebra mussels at the marina several months earlier.
In January, after Parks Canada said it was not feasible to try to eradicate the invasive and destructive species from the lake because the spread had gone beyond the marina, the federal department said it would return to its 2023 one boat, one lake policy.
Under the policy, boaters select a lake, and that's the only body of water they can use for the rest of the season. If the boat is taken out of a lake, it must be decontaminated and pass an Aquatic Invasive Species inspection before it can be launched elsewhere.
But cottagers and business owners were angered when suddenly, with no advance notice, Parks Canada announced at the beginning of the May long weekend that only non-motorized watercraft — including canoes and kayaks — would be allowed, but even they had to have an annual permit for use only on Clear Lake.
Parks Canada said at the time the move was 'a continuation of Parks Canada's attempts to reduce zebra mussel spread in Clear Lake and the potential damage that may be caused to downstream water bodies and related infrastructure.'
Fairness for Clear Lake has already raised more than $92,000 of a $100,000 goal in a crowd-funding campaign to be used for 'legal action, advocacy, and communications efforts.' The donors include $10,000 from the Elkhorn Resort, $5,000 from Lakehouse Properties, $5,000 from Collyer Construction, and $1,000 from the South End Lumber Timbermart.
In the court document, the cottage and business groups argue Parks Canada's decision was unreasonable and say the minister responsible for the federal agency failed to provide for public consultation, which they claim is a requirement under legislation.
Potter said the park superintendent met with cottagers and business owners the day after the decision came out.
'She had no sympathy at all,' he said. 'She said she made the decision.'
Potter said the effects of the ban are already rippling out, but will be felt fully in July and August.
He said there are already signs that cottages are not selling quickly like they have in the past.
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Potter said the owner of Clear Lake Marina, which not only rents boats, but also offers cruises on the Martese ship, also wasn't given any advance notice of the ban.
'He was going to open on the May long weekend and he had everything ready to go, and all of a sudden on the Friday he is told that is no longer allowed. The marina had hired 30 people to work there this summer and he had to lay off the majority of them,' Potter said.
Kelsey Connor, the marina's president, could not be reached for comment. But last month he told the Free Press the ban 'completely blindsided us.
'Parks Canada managers and staff have straight-up lied to and misled me over the phone, face to face and eye to eye leading up to this announcement.'
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin RollasonReporter
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Clear Lake coalition seeks judicial review of Parks Canada's sudden ‘gut punch' decision banning power boats
Cottagers and businesses at Riding Mountain National Park are asking for a judicial review of a decision by the federal park's superintendent to ban motorboats on Clear Lake just weeks after giving them the green light. In a notice of application to the Federal Court of Canada, filed earlier this week by several organizations and individuals, including Clear Lake Country Destination Marketing Organization, Clear Lake Cottage Owners Association and Clear Lake Country Boat and RV Storage, are asking a judge to declare the decision was 'invalid or unlawful' and allow motorboats back on the lake. But Jason Potter, president of the Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the four founding organizations of Fairness for Clear Lake, said the ban changes what has been lake life there for decades. Earlier this year, Parks Canada said the pier at Clear Lake was expected to reopen fully this summer. (Connor McDowell / Brandon Sun files) 'It was a complete shock and a gut punch,' Potter said of the May decision that reversed an announcement in January allowing powered boats on the water. 'Right away we want the boats. We want people to enjoy Clear Lake like they have for generations. We also want Parks Canada to be fair and accessible to us — we hadn't heard anything before this decision was made.' No one with Parks Canada could be reached for comment. Last summer, powered boats were banned following the discovery of zebra mussels at the marina several months earlier. In January, after Parks Canada said it was not feasible to try to eradicate the invasive and destructive species from the lake because the spread had gone beyond the marina, the federal department said it would return to its 2023 one boat, one lake policy. Under the policy, boaters select a lake, and that's the only body of water they can use for the rest of the season. If the boat is taken out of a lake, it must be decontaminated and pass an Aquatic Invasive Species inspection before it can be launched elsewhere. But cottagers and business owners were angered when suddenly, with no advance notice, Parks Canada announced at the beginning of the May long weekend that only non-motorized watercraft — including canoes and kayaks — would be allowed, but even they had to have an annual permit for use only on Clear Lake. Parks Canada said at the time the move was 'a continuation of Parks Canada's attempts to reduce zebra mussel spread in Clear Lake and the potential damage that may be caused to downstream water bodies and related infrastructure.' Fairness for Clear Lake has already raised more than $92,000 of a $100,000 goal in a crowd-funding campaign to be used for 'legal action, advocacy, and communications efforts.' The donors include $10,000 from the Elkhorn Resort, $5,000 from Lakehouse Properties, $5,000 from Collyer Construction, and $1,000 from the South End Lumber Timbermart. In the court document, the cottage and business groups argue Parks Canada's decision was unreasonable and say the minister responsible for the federal agency failed to provide for public consultation, which they claim is a requirement under legislation. Potter said the park superintendent met with cottagers and business owners the day after the decision came out. 'She had no sympathy at all,' he said. 'She said she made the decision.' Potter said the effects of the ban are already rippling out, but will be felt fully in July and August. He said there are already signs that cottages are not selling quickly like they have in the past. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Potter said the owner of Clear Lake Marina, which not only rents boats, but also offers cruises on the Martese ship, also wasn't given any advance notice of the ban. 'He was going to open on the May long weekend and he had everything ready to go, and all of a sudden on the Friday he is told that is no longer allowed. The marina had hired 30 people to work there this summer and he had to lay off the majority of them,' Potter said. Kelsey Connor, the marina's president, could not be reached for comment. But last month he told the Free Press the ban 'completely blindsided us. 'Parks Canada managers and staff have straight-up lied to and misled me over the phone, face to face and eye to eye leading up to this announcement.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
13-06-2025
- Global News
CN Rail warns of ‘catastrophic impacts' as it seeks anti-flood barrier in Jasper National Park
Railway operator CN Rail warns flooding could have 'catastrophic impacts' on cross-country services in legal action it has filed to force Parks Canada to consider a protective barrier for its main line through Jasper National Park. Canadian National Railway Co. says in a Federal Court application that Parks Canada has wrongfully held up the work for nearly eight years by refusing to allow proposals to undergo environmental impact assessment. The railway says Parks Canada is opposed to a proposal to use gravel dredged from the river to construct an anti-flooding berm. The application filed last month says a portion of its main line that connects B.C. ports with the rest of the country is endangered by the risk that the Snake Indian River in the park will rapidly change course, in a phenomenon known as avulsion. 'CN's independent experts have concluded that the river adjacent to the CN main line is at impending and inevitable risk of a sudden and unpredictable avulsion in which the river will overtop its banks, rapidly abandon its existing channel and form a new river channel flowing directly downhill toward the main line,' the application says. Story continues below advertisement 'An avulsion would have catastrophic impacts.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "An avulsion would have catastrophic impacts." The railway company says such an event could cause 'significant destruction' of its main rail line, 'long-term cessation' of east-west rail service, and a potential 'catastrophic train derailment.' It says the main line is critical infrastructure for the Canadian economy. The company declined to comment on the legal action, and Parks Canada did not provide comment on the company's claims by press time. CN's application says the river overtopped its banks in 2016 due to winter ice jams, which required 'extensive emergency response measures in dangerous winter conditions' to protect rail infrastructure. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It says numerous studies have warned the river is at high risk of flooding in winter and summer, posing 'a real and imminent risk to CN's main line.' 0:26 Rockslide causes train derailment on B.C. hillside CN's application says fixing the line if the river spills its banks would require work of 'unknown scope and duration.' Story continues below advertisement The company, the application says, has been working on proposals for long-term flood prevention since 2017, but Parks Canada has allegedly held up an impact assessment for nearly eight years. 'During that time, Parks Canada has repeatedly issued new and evolving guidance about how it conducts impact assessments,' the application says. 'CN's proposals have been repeatedly rebuffed by Parks Canada.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "CN's proposals have been repeatedly rebuffed by Parks Canada." CN says it presented its latest proposal to the agency in January 2024, with two options for the construction of a 'flood containment berm,' one using material brought from outside the park, and the other with gravel dredged from the river bed. The second option, the application says, would have the additional effect of deepening the river, allowing the berm to be 'significantly smaller in size and have less of an impact on the adjacent habitat.' 2:04 CN outlines damage and remarkable repairs to rail lines Parks Canada has indicated in the past that it supports construction of a berm, according to a letter cited in CN's application, but is opposed to using materials from within the park. Story continues below advertisement CN estimated in 2020 that bringing in gravel and other material by truck and train would take two years on an 'optimistic schedule,' requiring approximately 2,000 truckloads and more than 1,200 full rail cars. 'If the material was transported by truck alone, it would require over 200 days of trucking and approximately 4,000 truck trips,' the application says. Parks Canada rejected the idea of dredging the river, CN says, because the proposal 'does not conform with the regulatory and policy intent for a declared wilderness area in Jasper National Park.' The railway's application seeks to overturn Parks Canada's decision denying its bid for an impact assessment. 'CN still does not know precisely what is required in order to advance its proposal to impact assessment, despite having provided far more information and detail than is required prior to an impact assessment,' the application says.
Cision Canada
13-06-2025
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada recognizes national historic significance of the Co-operative Union of Canada - the first organization to unite and represent Canadian co-operatives Français
HAMILTON, ON, June 13, 2025 /CNW/ - On June 6, Parks Canada commemorated the national historic significance of the Co-operative Union of Canada (CUC) by virtually unveiling a plaque to be installed in Hamilton, Ontario. The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. Additionally, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, the national association representing the co-operative and mutual sector, held a special in-person unveiling of the plaque during their annual congress in Regina, Saskatchewan, from June 10 to 11, 2025. This event highlights the enduring influence of the co-operative and mutualist movement—which brings together member-owned organizations that operate for the mutual benefit of their members—that the Co-operative Union of Canada helped to shape. The Co-operative Union of Canada was a trailblazer in uniting co-operatives across the country and amplifying their interests on the national stage. Founded in Ontario in 1909 by advocates of the co-operative movement, it was primarily a consumer pressure group before the First World War. In 1944 the CUC convinced the federal government to improve tax changes that would have been damaging to co-operatives. In 1970 it successfully lobbied the federal government to pass the first federal co-operative legislation, the Canada Cooperative Associations Act. By 1984, the CUC had become a national organization focused on promoting government relations with the co-operative community, coordinating shared interests among co-operatives, leading communication and promotion of co-operative activities, and advancing international co-operative development. This historic designation honours not only the organization's legacy, but the enduring power of co-operatives in building stronger communities in Canada and around the world. The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped this country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding of and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present. The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To nominate a person, place or historic event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: Quotes "From its founding in 1909 to its advocacy for landmark legislation, the Co-operative Union of Canada helped shape a more equitable and collaborative Canada. Historic designations reflect Canada's rich and varied history, and I encourage all Canadians to learn more about the Co-operative Union of Canada and its important contributions to our shared heritage." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages "Parks Canada's commemoration of the Co-operative Union of Canada reflects our nation's commitment to honouring the legacy of community-driven organizations that have shaped our history, reinforcing the enduring power of co-operatives in building stronger, more inclusive communities across Canada." The Honourable Aslam Rana, Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre Quick Facts With the goal of giving back to the community in which it operates, a co-operative is an organization owned by its members that share similar economic, cultural and/or social needs. Founded in 1909 with support from five co-operatives in Ontario and Nova Scotia, the Co-operative Union of Canada was the first national organization to unite and represent Canadian co-operatives. Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister responsible for Parks Canada on the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked Canada's history. To date, more than 2,270 designations have been made nationwide. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians. Parks Canada is committed to working with Canadians in our efforts to tell broader, more inclusive stories in the places that it manages. In support of this goal, the Framework for History and Commemoration outlines a comprehensive and engaging approach to sharing Canada's history through diverse perspectives. Related Links Parks Canada Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)
