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This article was published 5/8/2016 (1508 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Pallister government hopes further consultations will melt away continued opposition to a polar bear provincial park in the north.

The plan for a designated, protected park along the coastline of the Hudson Bay near Churchill was first announced in the 2013 throne speech under the former NDP government. The park was seen not only as a way to boost tourism in the area, but as a means to protect the denning habitat of the polar bears and caribou habitat. At least 128 bird species also breed in the area.

Unlike many other decisions made under the Selinger government, a polar bear park is one the Progressive Conservatives wholeheartedly support.

"The longterm sustainability of polar bears is important to Manitobans and definitely important to all of us, so we want to move forward with it, in conjunction with First Nations people," Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox told the Free Press Thursday.

'The long–term sustainability of polar bears is important to Manitobans'

First Nations in the area were stunned when the announcement was made in 2013, as they had not been consulted, explained War Lake First Nation Chief Betsy Kennedy. Several First Nations, including War Lake, Fox Lake, Shamattawa and York Factory First Nations, are located in the area and had concerns over what the designation would mean for trappers and hunters.

Briefing materials on the park provided to Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox outline that to this day the department has had