Objectives
Identify, establish, and manage a system of provincial parks, ecological reserves, and protected areas that represents the diversity and uniqueness of landscapes across Manitoba, provides a range of recreational and interpretive opportunities for Manitobans, and preserves and interprets selected elements of Manitoba's cultural heritage.
Activity Identification
Implements Building the Parks Province, Manitoba Parks Strategy, which focuses on priority areas for investment and action to 2020 including developing new partnerships; enhancing the park experience; new enticements for active families; and stronger environmental stewardship.
Implements Places to Keep: Manitoba's Protected Areas Strategy, which outlines Manitoba's plan to protect an additional six percent of the province by 2020. Work will focus in eight priority planning areas and will include provincial parks and ecological reserves, designed to conserve ecosystems and ensure their future viability.
Ensures effective management of new and existing provincial parks through the development and implementation of park management plans.
Undertakes consultation with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and the public relating to proposed provincial park and ecological reserve designations, proposed protected areas, and provincial park management plans.
Oversees the planning, design, and delivery of the provincial park infrastructure program.
Supports the regional delivery of park operations throughout the province.
Sets the direction of outdoor recreation programming in Manitoba's provincial parks.
Coordinates management of the provincial park campground system, including administration of the Parks Reservation Service.
Coordinates delivery of the interpretation program in provincial parks.
Provides planning, policy development, and program support for safety and risk oriented programs in Manitoba Provincial Parks.
Oversees the administration of park districts, including the issuance and management of leases to occupiers of land and the recovery of costs associated with land rent and service delivery.
Provides strategic parks program direction by establishing strategic priorities, guidelines, and directives.
Assesses park regulations and initiates revisions and updates as necessary.
Represents Manitoba on the Canadian Parks Council and the Canadian Heritage Rivers System, and participates in various local, national and international parks initiatives and working groups.
Conducts environmental reviews and ecological impact assessments of proposed land use and developments within or adjacent to provincial parks or ecological reserves.
Expected Results
Implementation of some of the more than 50 new initiatives that form part of the eight-year Building the Parks Province, Manitoba's Parks Strategy, which includes investments of more than $100 million for park infrastructure. Investments in 2016/2017 include upgrades to washrooms and showers at a number of locations completion of an improved entrance and fully renovated gate structure off Hwy 59 at Birds Hill Provincial Park, a new campground office at Blue Lake Provincial Park, continued flood redevelopment and new facilities at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, additional yurts at multiple locations, , and significant improvements in water and wastewater infrastructure.
Under Places to Keep: Manitoba's Protected Areas Strategy, move forward on protected areas planning processes for the Saskatchewan River Delta, Western Wilds, Manitoba's East End, and the Seal River and Arctic Tundra.
Planning and consultation processes for five new and one expanded provincial park, and four new and one expanded ecological reserves will be ongoing. New parks include the proposed Polar Bear Provincial Park and the proposed Seal River Provincial Park.
Development and implementation of management plans for provincial parks.
Updating and development of operational policies, procedures and directives.
Implementation of safety and risk management planning related to parks programming, including, beach safety, campground safety and security and the expansion of 9-1-1 service to provincial parks as opportunities arise.
Revision and enhancement of interpretive publications including selected self-guiding trails guides, park maps and the Junior Naturalist, Park Explorer and Park Pal programs.
A revised Cottager's Handbook.
Initiation of discussions with cottagers, commercial operators, and other stakeholders on the development of a new property value assessment model for service fees and Crown land rent in provincial parks.
Current and effective regulations to govern the range of activities and programs within parks and ecological reserves.
