The city of Portage la Prairie won't be joining an environmental movement started by David Suzuki. A group of environmentally-minded citizens held a presentation at Council meeting in December, to request the city join the Blue Dot Movement. The movement aims to have local government's thinking about the environment in all their decision making, with the ultimate goal of having the Charter of Rights and Freedoms changed to include the right to a healthy environment.

This week council approved the administrative recommendation to not join the movement, citing some concerns over possible obligations. Community Services Chair Brent Froese says they felt that by joining the movement, they may be forced to utilize products or practices that wouldn't benefit citizens, or would not have beeen fully researched.

However, obligations weren't the only reason the city voted against joining the movement. Froese says they had some concerns over the calls for changes to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, feeling it wasn't Council's place to decide.

"It's more of a political issue, in a sense they state the ultimate goal is to challenge the Canadian Charter of Human Rights. We felt as a municipal council, that's a little above our pay grade. We're typically involved in roads and sewers, and adjusting the Canadian Charter of Human Rights is possibly for a different level of government."

While they're not joining the movement, Froese says environmental protection is still a top priority for the city. He emphasizes they're committed to the environment, citing their practices ranging from chemical use to the installation of LED bulbs, and their establishment of a greenhouse gas baseline.

"We are very concerned about the environment. I don't think there's anyone on Council that wants to disregard environmental issues. In the report I read into the record there were seven areas we've noted, where we've gone to great lengths to protect the environment, and leave a good city for the future generations."

Last year the provincial government had signed on to the Blue Dot movement, and six local governments have also signed on including Stonewall, Selkirk, and Thompson.