A resolution proposing to extend Manitoba’s camping season by nearly three months was a topic of discussion at a recent meeting between provincial officials.
The resolution was recently discussed at a meeting between Chuck Davidson, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president and CEO, and Rochelle Squires, minister of sustainable development for Manitoba.
At the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce annual general meeting in May, a resolution was passed for the provincial chamber to conduct research into lengthening the summer season for provincial parks.
If the new resolution is adopted as-is, the Manitoba camping season in provincial parks would be extended, running from Apr. 15 to Oct. 25, extending the camping season by almost three months in some areas. The resolution also includes a measure to look into increasing the number of seasonal camping spots available in provincial parks.
Camping season currently runs from May to as late as Thanksgiving in some areas. This year, most provincial parks opened on either May 11 or May 18, with most closing in early September shortly after the Labour Day long weekend. Bakers Narrows Provincial Park was in operation from May 18 to Sept. 3 this year and currently includes 27 seasonal spots.
Becky Cianflone was one of three representatives from the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce at the annual general meeting in May.
“There was some good discussion at that time, at that meeting, about the possibility of expanding tourism in the province by offering a longer camping season,” she said.
“The provincial chamber, they’re mandated with moving those policy resolutions throughout the year on behalf of their membership. It doesn’t surprise me at all to hear there was a meeting with the minister and that this was on the agenda for discussion.”
Other resolutions passed at the meeting regarded changes to rules around fishing licenses in Manitoba, advocating for licenses to be purchasable online and adding options for one-day and eight-day licenses for tourists and occasional anglers and three-year licenses for more frequent fishers. Two other resolutions, proposed by the chambers of commerce of Flin Flon, The Pas, Snow Lake, Thompson and Churchill, advocated for repairing the Churchill rail line, developing Highway 283 from The Pas to the Saskatchewan border and adding passing lanes along Highway 6 in both the northern and interlake portions.
