Sept. 27 letters to the editor

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Preserve the wetlands

Ducks Unlimited Canada is pleased with the findings of a recent Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) report that identifies a greater need for wetlands and other natural infrastructure as a cost-effective way to limit the expensive damage done by floods and extreme weather.

We hope the report – combined with recent funding announcements for green infrastructure and initiatives that reduce the potential impacts of natural disaster, and the recently-passed Sustainable Watersheds Act – will encourage governments, municipalities and conservation groups to pursue new projects together.

In its report, Combatting Canada’s Rising Flood Costs: Natural infrastructure is an underutilized option, released on Sept. 18, IBC provides a way to assess the total economic value, benefits and potential for natural infrastructure such as wetlands. It concludes that governments and water managers need to consider these natural alternatives, alongside concrete and steel solutions, for managing water on the landscape.

This new assessment tool will allow governments, municipalities and conservation groups to make a business case for preserving and restoring wetlands.
Further, in new funding under the Canada Infrastructure Program, DUC sees an opportunity to partner with Manitoba municipalities and watershed districts. We already have successful programs in place. As a conservation leader with more than 80 years of experience, DUC is in a strong position to provide natural solutions that address flooding and extreme weather. In fact, we’ve worked with landowners to protect and restore wetlands for decades, and we’re constantly seeking new partners to continue that work. Not only do wetlands slow the flow of water and help prevent flooding, they filter nutrients and provide clean water, supply wildlife habitat, and store climate-changing carbon.

Wetlands continue to be lost, but we hope the report, recent funding announcements, and the new act will foster the culture of conservation that continues to grow in Manitoba.

-Rick Andrews
Manager of Provincial Operations – Manitoba
Ducks Unlimited Canada


Portage has a great recycling program, and their service, both residential and commercial is great.

The other day I witnessed the recycling crew at a local business who shall remain nameless, picking up cardboard and bagged recycling – from those blue bins. One would think they just pick it up and throw it in their big truck. Except it didn’t go in the truck, but rather in the B.F.I. bin right beside it.

Would someone please tell me why cardboard and soda cans are now toxic garbage? Tell me why these people are paid to recycle, and keep the earth cleaner, but trash it all anyway. I’m not saying it’s done every time, but once is too many. If it would’ve filled the truck, or pro-longed their day, we get it, who wants to work more? But when you’re paid for a job, it must be done, not masqueraded as done. That’s plain lying that I think the abundant environmentalists would go nuts about. Tree-huggers, if you’re reading, join me in my concern. There’s enough harm from communities that don’t recycle at all. We don’t have to add to that, just because some guys get a little lazy.

Now, I’m not completely educated in this field, but aren’t programs like this funded by the government, on various levels? So tell me, those opposed, what are we paying for when our efforts go to waste and just get trashed anyway? Tax debates aside, some folks may have a harder time getting their recycling together and carrying it outside. But they do anyway, because they know it’s right. Or the busy working man, who always tries to recycle because it’s the right thing to do? Now he just wasted his time, because now it’s all trash.

Responders, be advised, this is all from my recent sighting, and my scenarios are simply speculation and hypothetical, nevertheless, valid. Hopefully it is a misunderstanding, and our recycling program is top-notch.

Ron McRiellic