Former PC leadership candidate Daudrich sues province, NDP ministers, wildlife officials over polar bear tour licences

Former Tory party leadership candidate Wally Daudrich has filed a new lawsuit against the Manitoba government, wildlife officials and NDP cabinet ministers.

The move is the latest in his legal battle over his company being denied permits to operate off-road polar bear tours outside Churchill.

Daudrich, and Lazy Bear Lodge and Expeditions, filed a statement of claim in Court of King’s Bench late last month.

The new court filing names the provincial government and the ministers responsible for natural resources, business and environment — Ian Bushie, Jamie Moses and Mike Moyes, respectively. It also names the director of the wildlife branch, Maria Arlt, and conservation officer Ian Van Nest as defendants.

Lazy Bear lost two of its six ecotourism licences early in 2025, which Daudrich has claimed is because of his ties to the Progressive Conservative party and his political beliefs. The remaining licences allow the company to operate tours in a part of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area that has roads, but fewer polar bears.

Daudrich learned via a letter on Feb. 27 last year that his number of permits was being reduced by the wildlife branch for the 2025-26 season, meaning he would not be allowed to operate polar-bear viewing vehicles off road.

He claims in the court filing that provincial officials didn’t issue his firm the permits to protect his competitors, Frontiers North Adventures and Great White Bear Tours, which have a combined 18 off-road permits. Neither were named as defendants in the court action.

Daudrich alleges the province colluded or conspired with the two firms to destroy his company’s position in the lucrative polar bear viewing tour market.

Further, Daudrich claims, officials punished or put him and his company at a disadvantage “for no lawful purpose including on the basis of their perceived political beliefs and associations.”

Daudrich alleges that includes his prior candidacy for the PC leadership and “false accusations” that Lazy Bear received its off-road permits in 2020 from the PC government “through alleged inappropriate means.”

The total number of permits was limited to 18 between 1984 and 2020. The former PC government approved two additions, both of which were awarded to Lazy Bear. Daudrich said in the court filing his firm has spent several million dollars on vehicles and infrastructure related to off-road tours in the years since.

He’s seeking unspecified damages for money he says Lazy Bear lost as a result of the cancelled permits and for damage to his reputation.

Provincial officials have said the reduction was made to protect a sensitive tundra ecosystem, aligns with a 2013 wildlife-management plan and responds to a 2024 review that determined the market was saturated.

Daudrich is seeking declarations from the court that the province’s decisions were unlawful and therefore invalid, and that the company is entitled to the permits for 2025 and in the future.

He also asked the court to issue an order requiring the officials to grant the permits, with no further conditions.

The court papers further ask for a declaration from the court that the defendants, in bad faith, engaged in misfeasance in public office, negligence, conspiracy, unlawful conduct, unlawful interference with his economic interests and discrimination under the Human Rights Code.

None of the defendants have filed statements of defence. The provincial government would not comment on the lawsuit. Cabinet spokesman Ben Leahy, asked to comment on behalf of the ministers, also declined.

Daudrich filed an earlier application in the King’s Bench in late March, asking a judge to review the decision to reduce his company’s permits and seeking an injunction to restore the permits for two vehicles.

Daudrich’s request for an injunction was dismissed by the Court of King’s Bench in April. He appealed the decision, but that was tossed in June.

The request for a review is still before the court.

Daudrich recently announced he plans to seek the PC nomination in Turtle Mountain after current MLA Doyle Piwniuk said he would retire from politics at the end of his term.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca