Manitoba
Submitted by Douglas Forbes
Although there are a few things on the horizon, there have been no legislative changes and no cases of significance in Manitoba over the past year. Manitoba Environment has been focussing its energy on its merger with Manitoba Natural Resources (into a new department called Manitoba Conservation) and the civil service and politicians' attentions have been focussed on matters other than policy changes in the environmental sector.
The most significant actual change has been the hiring of thirteen new enforcement officers by the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which is a significant increase. In practical terms, the Federal Government now has a presence in Manitoba that it never had before. The impact is just beginning to be felt, but it is changing the way things are done in Manitoba in some sectors. In particular, the Heavy Construction Industry is now having to obtain permits for infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges which it, frankly, never considered before.
The Province of Manitoba commissioned and received a report on the livestock industry. Public hearings were held in several Manitoba communities. To date, however, no action has been taken by the Government of Manitoba with respect to any of the recommendations within the report.
Manitoba Conservation has drafted a new regulation under the Dangerous Goods Handling Transportation Act dealing with the storage and handling of petroleum and related products. Although the draft regulation has been written, it has not been distributed and is not available to the public. I have been advised by individuals at Manitoba Conservation that there is no plan for public consultation.
That said, I am also advised that the regulation will codify guidelines currently in use by Manitoba Conservation regarding the installation and removal of storage tanks and require that installation and removal be done by licensed individuals.
Finally, Manitoba Conservation is considering changes to the Environment Act. The Environment Act is the Act that licenses development in Manitoba. The previous Government implemented a Consultation on Sustainable Development Implementation ("COSDI") which produced a report. The report was endorsed by the opposition NDP, which now forms the Government. Apparently Manitoba Conservation plans to implement the principles of COSDI, at least partially, through changes to the Environment Act. Unfortunately, COSDI was such a general statement of values that, in the writer's opinion, it is difficult to predict how it will be interpreted and incorporated in the Environment Act.
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