Backgrounder: Why Manitobans Must Speak Up for Fair Access to Public Lands

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation is calling on citizens across the province to take action in response to a troubling trend: the steady erosion of public access to Manitoba’s provincial lands for licensed hunters, anglers, outfitters, cottagers, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Recent decisions by the provincial government have dramatically shifted land use policies — often without public consultation — and have created deep concern among those who rely on public lands for recreation, livelihood, and cultural connection.

We want to be clear: we fully respect treaty rights, including harvesting rights. But these rights must be balanced with fair and inclusive access for all Manitobans. Unfortunately, that balance is being lost.

Here are key developments that demand public attention:

• Drastic Tag Reductions: A last-minute, 75% cut in moose hunting tags across several northern game hunting areas — now being challenged in court — has left licensed hunters excluded without warning or explanation.
• Exclusive Designations: Large tracts of land in the Cross Lake and Bloodvein River areas have been designated for exclusive access by Indigenous harvesters, with no consultation or transparency.
• Unaddressed Blockades: Illegal blockades targeting licensed hunters and property owners have gone unresolved, creating safety concerns and undermining lawful public access.
• Restricted Land Use Proposals: Proposals to convert public lands into indigenous protected areas that could exclude licensed hunters, anglers, outfitters, and the general public — again, without meaningful engagement.

These decisions are being made behind closed doors, without input from the Manitobans whose access is being restricted. Public lands are a shared resource, and their management must reflect the voices of all communities — Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.

This is not a call for division. It is a call for unity, fairness, and respect.

We urge you to join our campaign and write to your elected officials. Ask them to:

• Engage in transparent and inclusive consultation before any further changes to public land access are made.
• Develop policies that respect treaty rights while protecting equal access for licensed outdoor users.
• Address illegal blockades promptly and lawfully.
• Uphold the principle that Manitoba’s public lands are a shared heritage — not a privilege reserved for a few.

This action is for Canadian Residents Only.