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Crossroads
This week
TEST DRIVE
DARRELL NESBITT/CROSSROADS THIS WEEK
Like a vehicle, airplanes need a test drive to make sure the engine and other aspects are finely tuned and in great shape before leaving the lot, or in this case, the Shoal Lake Airport. On Friday, May 2, a pilot operating a Prairie Dusters’ crop duster – another name for a special spray plane – tested the engine in preparation for another busy season of providing aerial application and firefighting services to the region.
RACHEAL FLINTOFT
Crossroads This Week
The Manitoba government has announced the availability of 350 moose hunting licenses for the 2025 season, marking an increase of 250 tags compared to the previous year. This decision comes after a controversial reduction in moose tags in 2024, which stirred considerable conflict among hunters and advocacy groups across the province.
Last year, the government made headlines when it decided to cut moose hunting licenses by 75%, drastically affecting various northern hunting regions. The debate regarding the tag reduction remained off the table and left residents grappling with the implications for both conservation efforts and hunting rights, highlighting a clash between non-Indigenous and Indigenous hunting priorities. The Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) condemned this move as
unreasonable, advocating for collaboration and transparency in decision-making processes concerning wildlife management.
The announcement from July 2024 for the cuts was framed by the government as a necessary step towards wildlife sustainability and to support Indigenous harvesting rights. However, the lack of consultation with key stakeholders like the MWF fueled outrage about the motivations behind the sudden decision. Critics argued that the
$1.3 Million shared with
cuts were made without sufficient data, as Indigenous harvest rates were not adequately reported, complicating the government’s rationale for the reductions.
Fast forward to 2025, the new government initiative seems to address some of the concerns raised last year. Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures, Ian Bushie, provided assurances that the increase in moose tags would respect the hunting rights of all Manitobans while emphasizing
improved data collection methods. The government has also introduced a wildlife advisory and planning board, in collaboration with the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, to guide future wildlife management decisions and foster communal dialogue.
“This is a pivotal time for all of us who share an interest in conserving and enhancing Manitoba’s moose population,” stated Bushie.