A former candidate for the leadership of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party has initiated legal action against the province, two wildlife officials, and three NDP cabinet ministers for obstructing his ecotourism company from operating offroad vehicles for polar bear viewing in the east of Churchill. Lazy Bear Expeditions, owned by Wally Daudrich, filed a statement of claim on Dec. 22 in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, seeking a declaration that his company is entitled to two offroad vehicle permits and requesting the province to grant these permits.
Daudrich alleges that the officials involved in the decision not to renew the permits in 2025 engaged in misfeasance, negligence, bad faith, conspiracy, unlawful conduct, economic interference, and discrimination based on political orientation. The statement of claim names the NDP ministers responsible for natural resources, business, and environment, as well as the director of the wildlife branch and conservation officer Ian Van Nest, as defendants.
According to Daudrich, the defendants were aware that their actions would harm Lazy Bear’s business, disrupt its contracts with international tour operators, and lead to significant financial losses. This lawsuit is part of several legal actions taken by Daudrich since February 27, 2025, when the province informed Lazy Bear that it could not operate offroad polar bear viewing vehicles in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area for the 2025-26 season.
Daudrich alleges that the province withheld the permits to favor Lazy Bear’s competitors, Frontiers North Adventures and Great White Bear Tours, who hold a combined total of 18 offroad permits. He claims that the province colluded with these competitors to undermine Lazy Bear’s market position in polar bear viewing tours in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area.
Moreover, Daudrich asserts that he faced discrimination based on his political beliefs and candidacy for the PC leadership. He refutes accusations of receiving permits through inappropriate means and seeks damages for financial losses, contract disruptions, market share decline, vehicle expenses, and reputational damage.
The allegations in the claim remain unproven, and no statement of defense has been filed. The provincial public service refrained from commenting on behalf of the wildlife branch director and conservation officer Van Nest, citing the ongoing legal process. A government spokesperson also declined to comment on behalf of the cabinet ministers named as defendants in the claim, stating that the government is awaiting a decision in a separate lawsuit.
Daudrich has expressed his intention to run for office as the PC candidate in the Turtle Mountain constituency in the upcoming provincial election.