Attendees pack Danceland in Clear Lake, Wasagaming, Manitoba, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 as part of a town hall put on by Fairness for Clear Lake. (HANDOUT)
Parks Canada faced backlash at a packed town hall Tuesday after confirming that its summer ban on motorized boats on Clear Lake was prompted by a potential legal challenge, not environmental science.
The admission has sparked criticism from tourism operators, residents, and Indigenous groups who say the decision has harmed community trust and local economies.
“Parks Canada should be a symbol of unity and national pride, not division and mistrust,” said Trevor Boquist, spokesperson for Fairness for Clear Lake (FFCL), a local advocacy group.
“Parks Canada had an opportunity to bring Indigenous communities, local residents, and businesses together to find a balanced solution but instead made decisions behind closed doors. The result is frustration for all stakeholder groups and a loss of confidence in how Riding Mountain National Park is managed.”
Independent biologist Mark Lowdon told attendees the invasive species will continue to spread within the lake naturally, with or without boating.
Data from Parks Canada also shows zebra mussels have already reached the lake’s west end, despite the ban.
The federal government previously announced a one-boat, one-lake policy for the 2025 boating season earlier this year, but suddenly reversed course just days before the May long weekend.
Fairness for Clear Lake is calling for Parks Canada to engage in open, inclusive dialogue and rebuild trust through collaborative management with all stakeholders.
“We are inviting Parks Canada to work with us to restore trust in the agency and in local leadership at Riding Mountain National Park,” added Boquist.
FFCL has crowdfunded approximately $115,000 since May for its efforts.
