The Clipper September 10, 2015 7

By Keith BorkowskyThe Wilderness Com-

mit tee dropped 3,600 signed cards requesting the provincial government permanently protect the lower Bird River from any future development.

RM of Alexander Coun. Mac Kinghorn wondered why that was necessary as there are already develop-ment restrictions in those areas preventing more cot-tage development.

In a press release, the Wilderness Committee asked for permanent pro-tection for a 17-kilometre area that stretches for 1.5 km on either bank of the river from the Nopiming Provincial Park boundary to Hammerstead Falls.

“This is still an ongoing look at planning for the lower Bird River,” said Eric Reder, Manitoba cam-paign manager for the Wil-derness Committee. “Look at when Tembec wanted in 2004-05 to log the road corridor. Residents didn’t want to see that. Then in 2007, cottage owners com-missioned a study on their own on the carrying capac-ity of the river. There were concerns there is too much development and the river couldn’t handle any more development.”

Kinghorn said much of the land noted by the Wilderness Committee

is Crown land which is subject to possible Treaty Land Entitlement claims. The remaining portions are already subject to a development moratorium so strict that large lots can’t even be subdivided amongst family.

“What (the Wilderness Committee) is talking about is all of that land on the upper part of the river going up to Bird Lake,” Kinghorn said. “That’s all Crown land to start with. Basically what it boils down to is it’s Crown land that’s all going to be TLE. Everything else is under a moratorium. This won’t have a negative impact on (the RM of Alexander) other than there’s a mora-torium in place and they’d better honour it.”

There are a couple of larger properties that could have been subdi-vided. However, their ap-plications were not in place prior to the development moratorium, so the RM council won’t consider those requests.

“There is a moratorium for the Bird River now and it has been in place for a number of years now,” Kinghorn said. “It restricts any new subdivision along the Bird River. So if you have a chunk of property, say 25 acres, you can’t subdivide it. If you didn’t already subdivide it, you can’t do it now.”

Kinghorn said the re-strictions are so tight, a family who wanted to sub-divide a large property so

each family member could have their own lot, were turned down.

Reder said a plan sev-eral years ago by TANCO Mine to drain wastewater from Bernic Lake into the lower Bird River also convinced them to drop off the signed cards at Premier Greg Selinger’s office at the Manitoba Legislature on Aug. 27.

“We want to ensure the river is as healthy as it can be and we will continue to use it; cottagers, members of the Sagkeeng First Na-tion, they can still use it,” Reder said. “This is a step forward in a vision for the region so the Bird River stays around for the next generation.”

Reder said a drive to ask Bird River residents to sign the cards was so successful, they used all of the 150 cards they brought with them in short order.

Kinghorn, who repre-sents Ward 4 and the Bird River area, said it was the first time he’s heard of the Wilderness Committee or its efforts to encourage leg-islation to protect the area from development.

He didn’t dispute the committee’s claims of pop-ular support, noting while many people are pro devel-opment, sometimes they change their minds when development is proposed near their cottage.

“Bird River, there is a moratorium already and there is one also on the Lee River Channel,” Kinghorn said. “That one was be-

Name dropping at Bird River3,600 signatures collected in opposition of future development

Photo by Keith BorkowskyAlexander Coun. Mac Kinghorn said subdivision applications prior to

a development moratorium won’t be considered by council.

By Keith BorkowskyHowling dogs are among the several

nuisances keeping the RM of Lac du Bon-net’s by-law officer busy.

“We hear about it all the time,” said RM by-law officer, Ches Carver.

Deputy Reeve Doug Marks said he also heard more loud animals more frequently and noted it was becoming a significant problem within the RM.

Marks noted at a recent council meet-ing that the problem was getting worse and asked Carver what could be done about it.

Carver said he could attend the scene and inform the property owners of the issue. Police could also be asked to lay

charges against offending pet or animal owners.

“The problem with that is you could be laying charges every day,” Carver said.

Council then discussed whether a new resolution was needed to help resolve the issue, authorizing the removal of animals under certain circumstances or conditions. At present, the RM doesn’t have an offi-cially designated location to house animals seized under those circumstances.

“I don’t have a designated area, but I do have a place where I can take them in an emergency,” Carver said. “But that’s only one or two dogs. We’re talking if I pick up stray dogs.”

Carver notified council of the issue as a regular report to the RM council.

By-law officer reports increase in nuisance barkingHowling dogs on the rise

cause of the RM of Lac du Bonnet not having enough capacity in their lagoon. They have added to the lagoon, so I expect that will change. But with Bird River, it was because of

population and the usage of the river already.”

Reder said the added congestion of more cot-tage development would damage the shorelines and affect the overall water

quality as boats can stir up sediment in the water.

Part of the Wilderness Committee’s awareness program for Bird River includes a paddling trip on Sept. 12.