compiled by Elmili TK
Manitoba has revoked polar bear viewing vehicle permits for Lazy Bear Expeditions, an ecotourism company in Churchill owned by Wally Daudrich, a candidate in the Progressive Conservative Party leadership race.
The provincial wildlife branch informed Daudrich last week that his company will no longer be allowed to operate two tundra vehicles in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area starting in 2025. This region, east of Churchill, is a prime gathering spot for polar bears each fall before Hudson Bay freezes over.
According to the wildlife branch, the decision was made due to the ongoing decline of the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population. Maria Arlt, director of the branch, stated in a letter to Daudrich on February 27 that the move aligns with Manitoba’s conservation priorities and aims to protect the fragile tundra ecosystem.
“The potential habituation of polar bears to vehicles also poses safety risks, further emphasizing the need for this limit,” Arlt wrote.
As part of the decision, the province is reducing the number of tundra vehicles allowed in the area from 20 to 18—the same cap that was in place before 2020, when the previous provincial government granted two additional vehicle permits to Lazy Bear. The remaining 18 vehicles are operated by two other Churchill-based ecotourism companies, Frontiers North and Great White Bear.
The province originally set the cap at 18 vehicles in 1984, reaffirming it in a 2013 management plan for the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Since then, the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population has declined further, with many bears experiencing deteriorating body conditions due to longer ice-free seasons on Hudson Bay.
Concerns Over Polar Bear Population Decline
Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals. As climate change extends ice-free periods, the bears are spending more time on land, leading to increased stress and food shortages.
According to Canadian research published in Science in January, the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population declined by 50% between 1979 and 2021. The average weight of these bears has also decreased significantly.
Daudrich argued that ecotourism companies depend on a healthy polar bear population and questioned why only his permits were revoked.
“Churchill’s greatest asset is its healthy polar bears,” he said. “This decision wasn’t made through proper discussion with the tourism industry. It was arbitrary. And only my permits were revoked—no one else’s.”
He also emphasized that his company had worked for decades to secure these permits.
“We ran tours for years before getting the permits in 2020. But having them was essential for marketing and ensuring the best experience for our clients,” he said.
Daudrich stated that thousands of people have already booked tours with Lazy Bear for 2025 and 2026, and he expects to lose tens of millions of dollars in cancellations.
Allegations of Political Interference
Daudrich accused the governing NDP of political interference, suggesting the decision was an attempt to undermine his leadership campaign.
“I believe Wab Kinew’s government is using the bureaucracy against me,” he said, claiming he is leading the PC leadership race ahead of Fort Whyte MLA Obby Khan. “They see me as an unknown factor and want to throw me off balance. But I’m here to stay.”
Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie denied any political motivation behind the decision.
“Unlike the PCs, we are removing politics from this process. The department conducted its due diligence,” Bushie said in a statement, noting that Daudrich was a longtime PC member before receiving his vehicle permits.
The province declined CBC News’ request for an interview with the Natural Resources department. However, in an unattributed statement, the government said it conducted “extensive engagement” in fall 2024 and determined that polar bear viewing tourism had reached saturation.
History of Controversy Over Lazy Bear’s Permits
The decision to grant Lazy Bear two additional vehicle permits in 2020 was met with opposition from competing ecotourism companies.
Frontiers North objected at the time, claiming the government had not consulted existing operators before issuing the permits. Great White Bear even took legal action against the province in an attempt to have the permits revoked, arguing they had been issued in a “discriminatory, biased, and unfair manner.”
Arlt echoed these concerns in her letter to Daudrich, stating, “We are committed to restoring a fair and transparent allocation process for the future.”
Representatives from Frontiers North and Great White Bear declined to comment on the government’s decision to revoke Lazy Bear’s permits.
