As wildfires forced the closure of Whiteshell Provincial Park last week, CBC has learned a 2021 report alerted the province to what an out-of-control blaze in the area would look like, warning such an event would lead to catastrophic loss of life and property.
The report, which was commissioned by the Manitoba government, included 10 recommendations. Four years later, it appears none have been fully implemented, though the province says that work is “ongoing.”
“Not surprised,” one longtime resident said when told about the report’s trajectory.
“Very little gets done in the Whiteshell,” he said. “Our last big burn was 2016, and they said they were going to fix it then and they didn’t.”
I’d like to see more information on what has or has not been done. Improving road access would be a long-term project.
But there’s no excuse for not starting.