MP calls on Parks Canada to explain Clear Lake motorized boat ban

The member of parliament for Riding Mountain is calling on Parks Canada to explain its decision for a motorized watercraft ban on Clear Lake.

On Thursday, MP Dan Mazier wrote a letter to the Riding Mountain field unit superintendent, asking Parks Canada to hold a public meeting to clarify its reasoning for the ban.

“The decision to impose a ban just before the May long weekend with inadequate notice, consultation, or clear justification, has blindsided the community and undermined months of preparation,” the letter states, adding that the lack of transparency has fueled public frustration.

Mazier’s letter goes on to say that Parks Canada was still telling people that motorized watercraft would be allowed on Clear Lake as recently as May 12.

“Parks Canada is a public agency. It is accountable to the people it serves,” it says.

“Yet increasingly, the public feels shut out of decisions that deeply affect their lives and livelihoods. That must change.”

Mazier’s plea comes after Parks Canada announced last week that only non-motorized watercraft will be permitted on the lake in 2025 in an effort to stop the spread of zebra mussels.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Riding Mountain National Park said they recognize the important place Clear Lake holds in the hearts of many Manitobans, as well as the strong connection that Indigenous communities have to the lake.

The spokesperson notes that last summer Clear Lake was closed to all watercrafts, which drew negative reactions from residents and business owners who were concerned it would stop people from visiting.

However, the park notes, 2024 saw Riding Mountain’s busiest year since 2021, with 347,418 visitors.

“Parks Canada understands this change is disappointing to some, especially those who complied with mandatory inspections and tagging in previous years,” the statement says.

“Parks Canada is implementing these changes in an effort to continue protecting Clear Lake so that its health and those of downstream waterbodies can be maintained and visitors and residents can continue to enjoy them in the future.”

Mazier’s full letter can be found online.