Wildlife advocate sounds alarm on new mining project in Manitoba’s north

NiCAN Limited, has been given the green light, and $300,000, from the province for mineral exploration in Grass River Provincial Park near Snow Lake.

A wildlife advocate is sounding the alarm after the Manitoba government approved a mining project in the province’s north.

NiCAN Limited, has been given the green light, and $300,000, from the province for mineral exploration in Grass River Provincial Park near Snow Lake.

Eric Reder, wilderness and water campaigner with the Wilderness Committee, said the provincial park is home to Boreal Caribou, a protected species, which he says is extremely sensitive.

“They’re not deer that are running through my yard. Caribou leave disturbances. In some instances they’ve been seen to move five kilometres away from a disturbance, and not utilize that area anymore,” he said.

Reder noted that this particular area is one of the few places in Manitoba where Caribou collar data is available, showing exactly what the mammals are up to. That collar data, he said, shows there will likely be some pregnant females in the area that will be disrupted by the drilling operations.

Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources, Jamie Moses, said the aim is to have a “balanced approach when it comes to mining and mineral development in Manitoba.”

“We understand that, specifically with this project, (NiCAN’s) permit (is) for fly-in only drilling programs. To be clear, there will be no bulldozers and heavy equipment, and no roads and trails proposed.”

Moses said the government is “very aware of the caribou population,” and added that there will be “precautions in place, particularly around caribou, to make sure the exploratory site won’t interfere with their populations.”