A Manitoba judge has ruled that Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie needs to review his decision to deny permits to a company that previously offered polar bear tours in large tundra vehicles in the Churchill area.
The judge’s decision, issued on Friday, criticized the province for not renewing two tundra vehicle permits for Lazy Bear Expeditions for the upcoming polar bear viewing season. The judge questioned the province’s reasoning for not renewing the permits and cast doubt on claims that the decision was made to protect polar bears.
The court noted that other ecotourism companies, Great White Bear and Frontiers North, hold a total of 18 permits to operate tundra vehicles in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. The decision highlighted a legal dispute initiated by Great White Bear after the province issued permits to Lazy Bear in 2020.
The judge mentioned concerns about the impact of stationary tundra lodges operated by other companies on polar bear behavior compared to the mobile vehicles of Lazy Bear. The decision suggested that the province’s decision may have been influenced by the ongoing legal dispute with Great White Bear rather than conservation concerns.
The judge pointed out that there was no evidence to support the province’s claim that reducing the number of vehicles on the tundra would benefit polar bear conservation. The ruling also emphasized the need for a fair and transparent permitting process for polar bear viewing activities in the future.
Following the court’s decision, the NDP government spokesperson stated that they would review the ruling before determining their next steps. Meanwhile, Lazy Bear’s owner, Wally Daudrich, expressed satisfaction with the decision and indicated plans to pursue separate legal action against the province and wildlife officials over the permit issue.