Fairness for Clear Lake Update – March 6, 2026
We are Expecting a Decision on Watercraft Management Soon
Fairness for Clear Lake has been working hard to advocate for our community and for a One Boat, One Lake solution for Clear Lake. Based on our ongoing consultations with the Superintendent of RMNP, we understand that a decision on watercraft is likely to come within the next ten days.
We continue to be actively involved in discussions with park leadership to ensure a reasonable and balanced decision and to formalize a collaborative relationship with Parks Canada.
Until a decision has been made, we ask our community for patience, and we encourage supporters to avoid speculation at this time. It is our understanding that the Superintendent has not yet shared the final decision with any stakeholders.
We appreciate your engagement and support, and we will share further updates with you when we receive them.
Update from Fairness For Clear Lake – Feb 3, 2026
Fairness for Clear Lake is Withdrawing the Judicial Review & Ramping Up Advocacy
We want to share a transparent update on Fairness for Clear Lake’s decision to withdraw the judicial review related to the May 2025 watercraft ban on Clear Lake. Put simply, in our view, the judicial review has already accomplished what it needed to.
The judicial review was never about litigation for its own sake. It was about speaking up for transparency and accountability, pushing for more collaboration and engagement from park management, and forcing clarity around how and why a major decision affecting Clear Lake was made without public or stakeholder consultation.
Through the judicial review, we achieved full document disclosure. For the first time, the community was able to see how Parks Canada’s decision unfolded internally. This transparency fundamentally changed the conversation and confirmed concerns many in the community had raised from the start. In that sense, we believe we’ve already won.
The landscape has shifted in other meaningful ways as a result of our community’s advocacy:
• A new RMNP superintendent is in place, actively engaging with the community and working to rebuild trust.
• A draft Terms of Reference now exists, outlining a framework for community consultation.
This is something we have long been calling for.
• RMNP’s engagement, governance, and decision-making processes are more structured and defensible than they were at the time of the May 2025 ban.
• Most importantly, we believe the current superintendent has laid the groundwork for a
future decision that could see boats return to Clear Lake in a way that is fair, defensible, and durable even in the face of a potential legal challenge. For that work to succeed, the
RMNP superintendent will need space, political backing, and support from Parks Canada.
Another factor in our decision was that the original scheduled hearing date of January 28th was moved due to factors out of our control, with the next available date for the hearing being May 21st. Since Parks Canada is expected to have made a watercraft management decision for the 2026 season well before May, the court likely would have declined to decide the case.
We believe that continuing the judicial review would be costly — not just financially, but relationally. At this stage, further litigation risks undermining the trust and working
relationships that are beginning to rebuild. Those relationships are essential if we are going to move forward in a meaningful and collaborative way.
Ramping Up Advocacy
You will hear more from us in the coming days as we ramp up our advocacy, calling on Parks
Canada to find a viable, balanced path forward to a defensible decision and a One Boat One Lake policy on Clear Lake.
Town Hall Recap – Dec 10, 2025
Fairness for Clear Lake
On Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 members from the Clear Lake Cabin Association (CLCA), Clear Lake Cottage Owners Association (CLCOA) and the Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce (WCC), took part in a virtual town hall with Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) Superintendent Tom Sheldon.
At the virtual event, the leadership of Fairness for Clear Lake provided highlights of our work since the summer, including the hard work of each of our member associations, on engaging with Parks Canada, contributing to consultations for RMP’s new management plan, and advocating for a One Boat, One Lake solution for 2026.
At the town hall, Superintendent Sheldon outlined Parks Canada’s decision-making process relating to zebra mussels in Clear Lake, summarized their engagements and progress on developing a new management plan for RMNP, and provided a general timeline for a decision on boating on Clear Lake for the 2026 season. Superintendent Sheldon also took part in a virtual Q&A, addressing members’ questions on Parks Canada’s vision for RMNP and the process to ensure continued engagement between our community and park management.
While FFCL is funded and supported by many community members, it was formed by three associations. As we work to make progress on behalf of all supporters, we must sometimes be flexible in the way that we work. While Parks Canada has held a series of public engagements, we felt that their engagement with community stakeholders at a town hall was essential.
Unfortunately, to keep the event distinct from public consultations, the meeting could not be open to the whole public, but only to members of the CLA, CLCOA, and WCC.
We understand that some supporters may be disappointed not to have had the opportunity to attend. We want to assure you that we are working hard on your behalf, and we will continue to work hard to keep all supporters up to date on our activities. To that end, please keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletter.
This meeting with Superintendent Sheldon represents our ongoing work and the progress and results we continue to fight for together. Here’s what we will focus on in the coming months:
- MOU: We’ll continue to work with Parks Canada to finalize a draft MOU.
- Boating in 2026: We’ll keep the pressure on Parks Canada to make a decision on boating, and we will continue to advocate for a One Boat, One Lake solution.
- Legal Action: We will push for a court date for our Judicial Review of Parks Canada’s May
2025 prohibition of motorized boats.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, let’s make sure that our community’s voices are heard.
Community Letter in Support of One Boat One Lake
I just thought I would share the latest initiative that Fairness For Clear Lake announced. The Clear Lake Cabin Association has supported Fairness since its inception, and this new effort aligns closely with our shared goals for a balanced and sustainable future for Clear Lake.
Here’s a quick overview of the initiative:
A community letter is being shared in support of a “one boat, one lake” approach for Clear Lake. This idea has strong Old Campground Community backing—71% support according to Parks Canada’s own survey—and aims to balance environmental protection with the recreational and cultural enjoyment of the lake. The letter encourages Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) and Parks Canada to work with local stakeholders to move this practical, widely supported solution forward.
Should you’d like to add your name in support of this specific initiative, please visit:
Once there, click the “Join the Movement” button and consent to provide your Name as well as preferred Contact Information. As an identified Responder, and assuming you as an individual decide to exercise the ability to do so, choose the offered option to complete and Submit your Letter.
Thanks, everyone, for taking a look and considering adding your voice to this effort.
Terry Botterill, CLCA President
Link:
Fairness for Clear Lake
- Fairness article to members and website
As a supporter of Fairness for Clear Lake (FFCL), the Clear Lake Cabin Association (CLCA) is sharing the following update with you.
The Brandon Sun published a story yesterday providing new insight into Parks Canada’s recent decisions at Clear Lake. In response, FFCL has issued the statement below.
Terry Botterill
President, Clear Lake Cabin Association
From Fairness for Clear Lake
Recent media coverage in the Brandon Sun demonstrates that Parks Canada’s decision-making at Clear Lake has been flawed. The local reporting shows that their May reversal on allowing boats back on to Clear Lake was the result of pressure, and not from a transparent or evidence-based process. This media revelation speaks to the lack of fairness and consistency that the community has long been concerned about.
Park Canada’s approach has been far too reactive. When Andrew Campbell of Parks Canada mentioned a “legal threat” at the July community town hall, the facts were not clear. We now know through media reporting that a single phone call – not a formal injunction or court filing – led to the boat policy reversal. This unfortunately paints a picture of a Parks Canada decision made on the fly, rather than through proper consultation and science-based reviews.
Fairness for Clear Lake has always been focused on due process, respectful dialogue, and science-based solutions. Riding Mountain National Park’s new management has the opportunity to return to these fundamentals, and we have been encouraged by their willingness to engage with stakeholders.
Fairness for Clear Lake acknowledges and respects Chief Blackbird’s connection to the land and to the lake. As we move forward, we must ensure that all voices in the community can be heard when decisions affect the whole community in Clear Lake.
Now that the facts about Parks Canada’s reactive decision have been made public, there is a need for the agency to reset. The new local leadership must let science and consultations with the entire community lead the way on boating policy.
Fairness for Clear Lake
- Balancing protection & presentation of Canada’s natural & cultural heritage.
- We value the balance at the heart of Parks Canada’s mandate & believe that all management decisions should reinforce the interdependent goals of protection & presentation.
- A formalized framework for inclusive collaboration & transparent communication.
- Beyond park management, Parks Canada has a responsibility to build trust, bring diverse voices together, & create a culture of collaboration & shared stewardship.
- Alongside established Indigenous governance agreements, RMNP must adopt an ongoing & formalized co-governance agreement with local community organizations. To strengthen understanding & trust among all partners, Parks Canada must facilitate relationship-building activities & establish advisory working groups with shared stewardship priorities.
- RMNP must prioritize transparency in communications & decision-making, engaging in evidence-based, culturally informed decision-making, & providing transparent reporting so communities can see how their input shapes policies.
- Adoption of the One Boat, One Lake model.
- Fairness article to members and website
As a supporter of Fairness for Clear Lake (FFCL), the Clear Lake Cabin Association (CLCA) is sharing the following update with you.The Brandon Sun published a story yesterday providing new insight into Parks Canada’s recent decisions at Clear Lake. In response, FFCL has issued the statement below.Terry Botterill
President, Clear Lake Cabin Association, RMNP must adopt transparent, predictable & science-based policies for recreation management, conservation & AIS prevention. As a long-term management principle throughout RMNP, the One Boat, One Lake framework offers a replicable model of fairness.
Fairness for Clear Lake, Oct 8, 2025
Below is an update from Fairness for Clear Lake (FFCL), including two key documents and a presentation video that have recently been shared with the new Superintendent of Riding Mountain National Park. These materials are intended to support a constructive, solutions-oriented path toward a more formalized consultation and decision-making process between Parks Canada and the Clear Lake / Wasagaming community.
Documents:
FFCL Benchmarking Report & Governance Models Briefing
Fairness for Clear Lake – Potential Governance Models Briefing (1)
Proposed Terms of Reference for Parks Canada–Clear Lake negotiations
Terms of Reference TOR for Clear Lake and Parks Canada negotiations (1) 2
Video Presentation: