FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fairness for Clear Lake Applies for a Judicial Review and Calls for a New Relationship with Parks Canada

June 18, 2025 – CLEAR LAKE, MB – Fairness for Clear Lake has taken the difficult but necessary step of filing an application for Judicial review of the Parks Canada decision announced on Friday May 16th regarding Clear Lake. This is not a move we take lightly. Our goal is not conflict—it is collaboration. We are calling for a new relationship with Parks Canada—one built on respect, transparency, and meaningful engagement with communities.  

The application for review had to be filed by June 16th, or the opportunity would have been lost. While legal action is not our preferred path, there has been no meaningful progress from Parks Canada in engaging stakeholders, providing evidence, or working toward a collaborative solution. After months of outreach and silence, this became our only viable option to protect the interests of our community.

For generations, Parks Canada has been a source of immense pride—a symbol of who we are as a country. Its parks and heritage sites have inspired awe, built memories, and connected Canadians to the land and to each other. But today, something has shifted. Communities are being sidelined. Decisions are being made without consultation. And trust—in one of our most beloved national institutions—is being lost.

This is bigger than Clear Lake. This is about restoring belief in the idea that government can serve the people with integrity. It’s about safeguarding not just natural spaces, but the democratic values that shape our country.

At a time when Canada needs unity, vision, and pride, we believe this is a nation-building moment. It’s an opportunity to reimagine Parks Canada not just as a steward of land—but as a leader in collaboration, community, and trust.

Let’s stand together to restore confidence, rebuild relationships, and return Parks Canada to its rightful place—as a global icon of conservation, community, and Canadian identity.

Frequently Asked Questions: Judicial Review of the May 16th Parks Canada Decision

Q1: What is Fairness for Clear Lake asking the court to review?

We have filed an Application for Judicial Review of Parks Canada’s May 16th decision to ban watercraft on Clear Lake. This decision was made without meaningful consultation, clear evidence, or regard for the economic, cultural, and community impacts. Our goal is to reverse the decision and require greater transparency and accountability in the federal decision-making process moving forward.

Q2: Why take this legal step now?

This was a time-sensitive action. The application had to be filed by June 16th, or the opportunity would have been lost. While legal action is not our preferred path, there has been no meaningful progress from Parks Canada in engaging stakeholders, providing evidence, or working toward a collaborative solution. After months of outreach and silence, this became our only viable option to protect the interests of our community.

Q3: What are you hoping to accomplish through this process?

This isn’t about creating conflict—it’s about restoring fairness. Through this Judicial Review, we hope to:

• Halt the enforcement of the May 16th boat ban
• Uncover and examine the evidence Parks Canada used to justify its decision
• Reinstate accountability and due process in federal decision-making
• Create space for respectful, evidence-based dialogue with the community

Q4: Does this mean you’re giving up on dialogue with Parks Canada?

Not at all. We remain fully committed to building a constructive, long-term relationship with Parks Canada—one based on:

• Transparent and accountable governance
• Meaningful consultation with local communities and stakeholders
• Balanced planning that protects ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods
• Ongoing, two-way communication and trust

Q5: What should the community and visitors understand about this action?

This application is a stand for local voices, fairness, and the future of Clear Lake. We believe strongly in this place—its people, its traditions, and its natural beauty. We’re taking this step to ensure that decisions affecting the community are made with transparency and respect, not behind closed doors. This is about protecting what makes Clear Lake special, now and for generations to come.

Q6: How can people support this effort?

There are many ways to stand with Clear Lake:

• Stay informed and share accurate information
• Contact your elected representatives and ask for accountability and support
• Speak out for transparent, inclusive decision-making processes
• Support local businesses and organizations advocating for a better path forward
• Sign up at www.fairnessforclearlake.ca to contact federal decision-makers or make a donation to help sustain this campaign

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About Fairness for Clear Lake: Fairness for Clear Lake is a coalition of community organizations and local businesses who care deeply about the future of Clear Lake. Our goal is to rebuild trust and foster a respectful, long-term relationship with Parks Canada, rooted in transparency and collaboration. We are also committed to building respectful partnerships with First Nations communities, where invited, and supporting their leadership, and enduring connection to this land. For more information, visit www.fairnessforclearlake.ca.

Media Contact:

Isabelle Del Rio

+1 (204) 285-0623

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