Towards Sustainable Development in Manitoba

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations to strengthen Manitoba's proposed watershed-based policy framework, which consists of three programs: GRowing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW), Watershed-based Drainage and Water Resource Management, and the Modernizing Manitoba’s Conservation District Program.

• IISD recommends the implementation of a robust, evidence-based evaluation and monitoring framework to ensure long-term sustainability across the three proposed watershed programs. This framework should track cumulative impacts to help Manitobans achieve goals such as cleaner water, better resilience, and an improved Lake Winnipeg, while incorporating government monitoring, community-led initiatives, and Indigenous knowledge.
• For the GRowing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW) program, IISD suggests targeting regions with the highest ecological goods and services (EGS) benefits to ensure value for money. To maintain financial sustainability, the program should leverage emerging markets, such as carbon markets or phosphorus loading offsets, rather than relying solely on public funds.
• IISD advises that the GROW program use regional targeting for beneficial management practices (BMPs) to address specific watershed needs, such as nutrient management in the Red River Basin or flood resilience in flood-prone areas. The document notes that some BMPs can have trade-offs; for instance, conservation tillage in Manitoba can increase phosphorus runoff into waterways.
• Regarding Watershed-based Drainage and Water Resource Management, IISD supports the continued protection of Class III, IV, and V wetlands by prohibiting drainage approvals for these systems. The briefing argues for a 'net gain' in water retention to combat climate-change-induced floods and droughts, suggesting that tile drainage projects be required to include retention basins or offsets.
• IISD expresses concern over proposals that would place an 'increased onus on downstream landowners to demonstrate the impacts of upstream activities,' arguing that this could raise program costs and detract from collective action.
• The briefing recommends that municipal wastewater lagoons be treated as a distinct category under regulations to ensure municipalities contribute to water quality, noting that many aging systems in Manitoba do not meet provincial phosphorus discharge regulations.
• To modernize the Conservation Districts Program, IISD suggests that watershed authorities (WAs) be given more authority and resources, similar to Ontario-based Conservation Authorities. WAs should be tasked with coordinating local implementation, disseminating tools like remote sensing, and identifying context-specific actions for the GROW and water resource management programs.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2017). Towards Sustainable Development in Manitoba. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/toward-sustainable-development-manitoba.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Towards Sustainable Development in Manitoba. 2017. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/toward-sustainable-development-manitoba.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Towards Sustainable Development in Manitoba |date=October 2017 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/toward-sustainable-development-manitoba.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2017towards, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Towards Sustainable Development in Manitoba}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/toward-sustainable-development-manitoba.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }