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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province kills city's sulfur gas ground squirrel extermination plans
The City of Winnipeg won't be allowed to carry out its controversial plan to use a lethal pesticide on ground squirrels. In a Thursday letter to Mayor Scott Gillingham, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes advised the city it won't receive a permit to use the sulfur gas product known as 'Giant Destroyer.' 'I write to encourage the City of Winnipeg to explore alternative options that prioritize the safety and well-being of Manitobans… I recognize the challenge involved in balancing the safety of park visitors, environmental protection and public access,' wrote Moyes. A provincial spokesperson said the minister wasn't available for an interview Friday, due to the province's ongoing response to wildfires. In an email, Moyes said the decision followed a 'careful and thorough review.' 'The department consulted with experts in health, environment, and wildlife to inform the decision not to proceed with the application. Additionally, the department received nearly 6,300 public submissions expressing concern about the proposed control program,' the statement said. Moyes also 'strongly' recommended the city devote some of its provincial funding to fill in ground squirrel holes. The city initially planned to start using Giant Destroyer to euthanize animals at eight parks and community centre fields on May 20, but the program was delayed due to the wait for a provincial permit. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files) The city initially planned to start using Giant Destroyer to euthanize animals at eight parks and community centre fields on May 20, but the program was delayed due to the wait for a provincial permit. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files) The city initially planned to start using Giant Destroyer to euthanize animals at eight parks and community centre fields on May 20 but the program was delayed due to the wait for a provincial permit. If no treatment occurs, city officials have warned ground squirrels can create deep holes in athletic fields where people and pets can trip and hurt themselves. A request to interview a city official was not granted Friday. In an email, a spokeswoman said the province noted public concern and 'insufficient consideration of alternative methods' as reasons for denying the permit. 'We do not have any other feasible options… The public safety risk of deep, exposed holes in parks and playing fields is already significant and will only grow without control,' wrote spokeswoman Julie Horbal Dooley. By contrast, an opponent of the treatment plan welcomed the province's choice. 'I'm actually very pleased with that decision … First and foremost, the proposed method of euthanasia (was) neither humane nor efficient,' said James Hare, a University of Manitoba professor emeritus in biological sciences. Hare said the sulfur gas poisoning would cause a painful death. 'If you place these gas bombs in a burrowing system… you are going to have individual (animals) that are going to be exposed, in many cases, minimally to that gas, so they will suffer but not die. You will also have individuals who are exposed to even a moderate concentration… who will suffer an incredibly painful and slow death, sometimes taking over an hour,' he said. Hare said trapping ground squirrels between mid-March and early April, when adults are emerging from hibernation and have not yet started breeding, would offer much more effective population control. The animals could then be given an anesthetic and euthanized with a fast-acting drug, he said. Hare said the city's concern with the hazard posed by ground squirrel holes is valid, though he expects the level of field damage has already reached its peak for this year. 'I understand, begrudgingly, how ground squirrels do have to be controlled. But if you're going to do it, do it right,' he said. Mayor Scott Gillingham said Thursday he believes some treatment is needed to protect people using city sports fields. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files) Mayor Scott Gillingham said Thursday he believes some treatment is needed to protect people using city sports fields. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files) Mayor Scott Gillingham said Thursday he believes some treatment is needed to protect people using city sports fields. 'Right now, when you've got a soccer field or a baseball diamond that's riddled with gopher holes, it's dangerous for everyone that's using it,' he said. 'I, for one, am open to any solution that can assist us in getting rid of these ground squirrels so that we can make our fields playable again.' The mayor expressed concern about the province's rejection of the permit on Friday. 'I'm disappointed in this decision. These sports fields are heavily used and keeping them in safe condition for kids and adults should be a priority,' he said in a written statement. The city had planned to use the pesticide at Charleswood Place, Beryl Watts Park/Vince Leah Community Centre, Fairgrove Bay Park, Woodsworth Park, Shaughnessy Park, Weston Memorial Community Centre, Theodore Niitzhotay Fontaine Park and St. James Memorial Sports Park. The decision came after mounting opposition directed at city hall, where protesters gathered Thursday morning. 'For the ground squirrels, specifically, it's a very cruel method of getting rid of them. They die a very slow, agonizing death … And then (there are) also the broader (affects) on non-target species (and) wildlife,' said Danae Tonge, an organizer with Manitoba Animal Save. Those concerns include putting predators, pets and people at risk of exposure to sulfur gas, she said. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province tabs $1.6M for Virden airport upgrades
VIRDEN — The province is spending more than $1.6 million to improve safety and expand traffic at Virden Regional Airport. 'This is an important investment that will encourage regional development and job creation in Westman,' Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard said Monday at a news conference in Virden. A portion of the $1,650,000 will go toward an improved weather information system for pilots. The improvements will support 24-7 medical transfer flights, said Simard (Brandon East). Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Municipal Affairs Minister Glenn Simard speaks at the $1.65-million expansion announcement at the Virden Regional Airport, Monday. 'It's really important to have this type of infrastructure here and what it means for someone having a medical crisis, so that more Manitobans can get the care they need, when they need it.' The new automated weather observing system (AWOS) can transmit information such as wind conditions, temperature, air pressure and precipitation, enabling STARS Air Ambulance to make critical weather-based decisions. 'It's a big deal,' said Scott Andrew, a pilot at the training and flight school Air Andrew in Virden. 'For guys that aren't familiar with the area, it's (important). Every airport should have one … The more information you have, the safer it is.' Andrew said the system will also tell helicopter pilots (vehicles with different safety standards than planes) when to avoid the area due to weather. The provincial funding will also be used to cover the cost of a runway extension and new lights for the taxiway and runway. The runway extension will allow pilots to descend up to 250 feet from the ground, from the current 500 feet, when approaching the airport, which means it will be easier to spot the runway, officials said. STARS was able to land at the Virden airport, but has been more susceptible to being rerouted due to there previously being no AWOS system. Virden Mayor Tina Williams said there will be more peace of mind with the upgrades — and that will help the town of some 3,100 grow. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Scott Andrew, President and Accountable Executive at Air Andrew, after the announcement at the Virden Regional Airport on Monday. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. She said the benefits will encourage people who grow up in the area to stay home and will boost the town's profile as a more attractive place to move to, as well as improving the facility for agriculture-related flights. 'As a person who lives here and has never had to be on one of those medical transports, I'm thrilled that if I need it, I know that they'll be there,' she said, adding because Virden is located next to the Trans-Canada Highway, some 280 kilometres west of Winnipeg, it sees its share of emergencies. The airport was built in 1940 as a training facility during the Second World War. It was nearly shut down in the decades after, but community members rallied for it to stay open. Simard said the funding announced Monday should allow the facility to at least double its lifespan. 'We hope this updated and expanded airport will serve the people of Virden and the surrounding community for another 80 years to come.' — Brandon Sun
