Petition to the Government of Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada

The federal government, through Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is proposing amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations that would introduce or expand recreational (sport) hunting opportunities in Manitoba for several migratory bird species, including tundra swans, mourning doves, Wilson’s snipe and American woodcock.

See proposals: Proposals to amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations - 2026: consultation document, hunting seasons 2026–2027 and 2027–2028

If these proposals are approved, Manitoba would see new or expanded licensed sport hunting seasons and bag limits for species that many people associate with wetlands, forests, seasonal migration and everyday encounters with nature — fundamentally changing how these birds are treated and perceived in the province.

These proposals are currently under consultation. They have not yet been finalized and can still be stopped or reconsidered. Although there are similar proposals for other provinces, this petition is focused exclusively on the proposed Manitoba changes and urges the federal government to pause and rethink these plans before they become law.

This petition concerns only licensed recreational (sport) hunting in Manitoba and does not address hunting regulations in other provinces or territories. It also only applies to proposed recreational hunting licences issued by the federal government in Manitoba. It does not apply to hunting by Indigenous Peoples — including First Nations and Métis — who hold constitutionally protected rights to hunt for food, social, and ceremonial purposes. These rights take priority over recreational, licensed hunting, and this petition fully respects and acknowledges that distinction.

WHY THE PROPOSALS NEED TO BE STOPPED

An outdated system is driving modern decisions
In Manitoba, when certain migratory bird populations are labeled “overpopulated,” the response typically follows a wildlife management approach developed nearly a century ago. This system emerged in the early to mid-20th century, when many bird species were in steep decline due to unregulated market hunting and widespread habitat loss. Regulated harvest was introduced to stop overexploitation and help populations recover from a human-created crisis.

That context matters, because we are no longer in that world.

Today, migratory birds in Manitoba are navigating a very different reality: wetland drainage, agricultural expansion, urban development, climate disruption, and disease outbreaks. Many population changes reflect birds adapting to altered landscapes and land-use decisions, not a return to unchecked abundance. Yet management responses remain largely unchanged, defaulting to recreational hunting rather than addressing the conditions driving these shifts.

A system designed to prevent extinction nearly a century ago is now being used in Manitoba to justify expanded killing in a vastly different ecological and social landscape — one where prevention, coexistence, and long-term resilience should be the priority.

Why recreational hunting keeps being chosen in Manitoba
Recreational hunting is often described as practical and science-based. In practice, it continues to be favoured because it produces quick, countable results that are easy to report, shifts cost and responsibility from government onto individual licence holders, aligns with long-standing wildlife laws and agency culture, avoids more difficult conversations about habitat protection and land use, and requires no meaningful update to policy or planning.

Manitoba already has long-standing hunting seasons for species that are clearly abundant and have well-documented population pressures. Against that backdrop, expanding recreational hunting to birds like tundra swans and mourning doves — where no urgent overpopulation issue has been established — appears unnecessary, extravagant and out of step with both ecological priorities and public values.

Manitoba deserves a better approach.

WHY THESE BIRDS MATTER IN MANITOBA
Tundra swans
Tundra swans are among the most iconic birds seen in Manitoba’s skies and wetlands. They migrate thousands of kilometres each year between Arctic breeding grounds and southern wintering areas, relying on Manitoba’s lakes and wetlands as critical stopover habitat. They are long-lived birds with low reproductive rates, strong pair bonds and a high dependence on healthy ecosystems.

For many Manitobans, seeing tundra swans during migration is a rare and meaningful experience tied to seasonal change. Treating them as expendable population units ignores both their ecological role and cultural significance.

There is also a serious practical concern. Tundra swans are difficult to distinguish from other swan species — particularly trumpeter swans — especially in flight or at a distance. Even experienced observers acknowledge this challenge. Introducing a swan hunting season increases the risk of misidentification, meaning protected or recovering swan species could be mistakenly shot. This risk is real and well documented wherever swan hunts exist.

Mourning doves
Mourning doves are increasingly familiar across Manitoba’s cities, towns and rural areas. Their soft calls and gentle presence are a common aspect of human-wildlife coexistence. They contribute to seed dispersal and are widely viewed as symbols of peace rather than as game animals.

These birds are also known to form strong, long-term pair bonds and are often monogamous, mating for life. Observers and researchers have noted that when one member of a bonded pair is lost, the surviving bird can exhibit visible distress and altered behaviour. The idea of killing these birds for recreation — particularly when no urgent ecological problem has been demonstrated — seems deeply wrong.

Some proponents of the proposal have described hunting mourning doves as “fun” or emphasized that they are good to eat. We fundamentally disagree with this framing. For us, killing these birds for recreation is not harmless or necessary — it is cruel and wasteful.

Wilson’s snipe and American woodcock
Wilson’s snipe and American woodcock are quieter, less visible birds, but they are no less important. Both are highly specialized species that depend on specific habitats that have already been significantly reduced in Manitoba.

Wilson’s snipe are wetland specialists, relying on marshes, wet meadows and bogs to survive. Their presence reflects the health of these water systems, and their distinctive spring “winnowing” courtship displays — a haunting sound created in flight — are a subtle but meaningful part of Manitoba’s natural soundscape.

American woodcock depend on young, brushy forests and moist soils, where they forage primarily for earthworms. In spring, males perform remarkable dusk and dawn “sky dances” that mark seasonal change and signal the health of these increasingly scarce habitats.

Expanding recreational hunting for snipe and woodcock adds pressure to species already navigating habitat loss and environmental change, without addressing the underlying land-use conditions they depend on.

BIRD FLU AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS - OVERLOOKED
Manitoba experienced significant migratory bird deaths during the last fall migration due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu). While public reporting does not always identify affected species individually, waterfowl and other migratory birds were confirmed to be impacted across the province.

Despite this, current proposals to expand recreational hunting do not clearly account for disease-related mortality or the cumulative stress birds are already facing from habitat loss, climate disruption and environmental change. Expanding hunting pressure while migratory birds are recovering from outbreaks raises serious concerns about whether all sources of mortality are being responsibly considered.

Wildlife management should be precautionary, especially when uncertainty and known risks exist.

“SUSTAINABLE TO SPORT HUNT” DOES NOT MEAN “NECESSARY TO SPORT HUNT”
Modern wildlife decisions should be guided by public trust, respect for animals as sentient beings, serious consideration of non-lethal options, and an understanding of the many pressures wildlife already faces — with a focus on long-term ecosystem health.

Being able to do something does not make it the right choice without all variables considered.

HOW THE PROPOSALS CAN BE STOPPED — WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
We call on the Government of Canada to:

• Reject the proposed recreational hunting expansions in Manitoba for tundra swans, mourning doves, Wilson’s snipe, and American woodcock
• Pause the use of sport hunting as a default population-management tool for migratory birds in Manitoba, and undertake a modern review of wildlife policy to ensure it reflects current science, ethics and public values.
• Account fully for disease-related mortality and cumulative ecological impacts before approving new or expanded hunting seasons
• Invest in non-lethal, preventative approaches that address root causes such as habitat loss and land-use change

This petition is not about being anti-hunting.

It is about recognizing that not every wildlife challenge in Manitoba requires recreational killing — especially when the species involved are valued, difficult to identify safely, already under pressure, and when better alternatives exist.

Manitoba has the opportunity to move beyond outdated systems and choose a more thoughtful, responsible approach to wildlife stewardship grounded in care, coexistence and long-term responsibility.

Sign this petition to urge Canada to protect migratory birds in Manitoba through modern, ethical, and responsible policy.