Former Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party leadership aspirant Wally Daudrich and his ecotourism company, Lazy Bear Expeditions, have taken legal action against the province, two wildlife officials, and three NDP cabinet ministers. The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 22, requests Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench to affirm Lazy Bear’s entitlement to two offroad polar bear viewing permits and compel the province to issue these permits.
Daudrich alleges that officials involved in the decision not to renew Lazy Bear’s permits engaged in various wrongful actions, including misfeasance, negligence, conspiracy, and discrimination based on political orientation. The lawsuit names the responsible NDP ministers and the wildlife branch director and conservation officer as defendants.
The legal dispute stems from the province’s refusal to grant Lazy Bear permits to operate offroad polar bear viewing vehicles in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area for the 2025-26 season. Daudrich contends that the province’s actions were intended to protect Lazy Bear’s competitors, Frontiers North Adventures and Great White Bear Tours, which hold a significant number of offroad permits.
Daudrich also claims that the province targeted him due to his political beliefs and candidacy for the PC leadership in 2025. He refutes allegations of impropriety in obtaining permits from the former PC government and seeks damages for financial losses, harm to business relationships, and reputational damage.
While the legal battle unfolds, neither the provincial public service nor government officials have provided comments on the matter. Daudrich, meanwhile, has expressed his intention to run as the PC candidate in the Turtle Mountain constituency in the upcoming provincial election.