June 7, 2021

Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg MB—In an underhanded move, the PC government have effectively privatized St. Ambroise Provincial Park, which means higher fees for regular families who want to use the grounds. The government signed an agreement to lease the land to a private company for a twenty-one-year term that took effect in January 2021.

"For generations, our provincial parks have been spaces for Manitobans to celebrate the seasons, and enjoy the natural wonders of our province,” said NDP Leader Wab Kinew. “The PCs claimed our parks were not for sale, but it turns out they have effectively privatized the land and raised prices for families. They aren’t for the Premier to sell off, they belong to all of us. He needs to be clear with Manitobans about his plans to privatize more of our parks.”

The province signed a lease agreement with the owner of Surfside Beach Campground that took effect January 1st, 2021. Admission and camping fees will increase as a result of the lease agreement.

In October 2020, the Manitoba NDP shared a ministerial briefing note on the development of a new parks business plan that included selling off cottage lots on provincial park lands.

“This was an underhanded and dishonest way to defacto privatize our parks. But we know they won’t stop at St. Ambroise,” said Naylor. “They have a plan to sell off more provincial park lands and turn them into profit-making ventures for private corporations. But our parks are not for the Premier to sell off— our provincial parks belong to Manitobans.”