Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt introduced Bill 211 to establish specialty Manitoba Parks license plates, allowing Manitobans to show their love for provincial parks while helping to revitalize the natural spaces they treasure most.
“Specialty license plates give Manitobans the chance to show their support for various causes and organizations in their communities,” said Nesbitt. “Manitobans care deeply about their provincial parks and this bill provides a positive way to show support.”
If Bill 211 is passed by the Legislature and given Royal Assent, PCs will work to ensure that the proceeds from sales of this new licence plate go into the Provincial Parks Endowment Funds. These funds generate $1 million annually for projects that improve trails, make beaches more accessible, build new playgrounds, restore habitats, protect cultural sites, and invest in other critical park infrastructure to enrich visitor experiences.
The funds were created in 2021 to support Manitobans wanting to give back to provincial parks through philanthropic donations and legacy gifts. The former PC government endowed the funds with an initial $20-million investment.
In 2023, Nesbitt launched the $220-million Parks Infrastructure Renewal Strategy, which was developed over three years and informed by consultations with over 10,000 Manitobans. The strategy targeted $121 million in park infrastructure investments and $103 million for roadway renewal in and around Manitoba parks over the next ten years.
Nesbitt, who is the PC Critic for Environment, asked the NDP minister last fall whether she would honour the commitments identified in the strategy. Though the NDP did not provide an answer then, their new budget has certainly provided one now: while nearly $13 million in capital funding was earmarked for parks in 2023, the NDP’s Budget 2024 has slashed this funding in half.
“Our PC team has worked collaboratively with Manitobans to ensure unforgettable park experiences for generations to come,” said Nesbitt. “Instead of building on this work and the priorities of Manitobans, the NDP have chosen to defund Manitoba’s natural spaces and environment.”
