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Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
British Columbia Trades Away Outdoor Recreation Rights to Continue Industrial Encroachment in The Peace Region
Surrey, British Columbia- February 11, 2022
The BC Wildlife Federation is concerned that a tentative agreement between Treaty 8 First Nations and the provincial government will result in a 50% reduction of moose harvest and complete closure of caribou hunting for resident hunters in Northeast BC. This tentative agreement represents a radical departure from science-based wildlife management.
The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled late last year that the Blueberry River First Nation’s treaty rights to hunt, trap and fish in their territory have been breached “by allowing industrial development in Blueberry’s territory at an extensive scale.”
But rather than addressing the problem of industrial encroachment, the provincial government pursued secret negotiations that have resulted in a substantial reduction in access by BC resident hunters to the affected region, a 50 per cent reduction in the harvest of moose and a total closure of caribou hunting in the Peace-Liard River region of northeastern BC.
The agreement has dramatic implications for outdoor recreationists, hikers, campers, anglers, and hunters in every corner of British Columbia for all future generations.
“We are gravely concerned that the province is negotiating away outdoor recreation instead of confronting the court decision dealing with cumulative effects of unsustainable resource extraction,” BCWF Executive Director Jesse Zeman.
There is no conservation rationale for the government’s approach.
“The Peace region has the highest density moose populations in the province. The province’s own data indicates hunting is sustainable and that licensed hunter harvest is extremely low. What every single person who enjoys camping, hiking, fishing and hunting should understand is that the province is willing to negotiate them away in favour of Site C, logging, and oil and gas,” he said.
The BC Wildlife Federation fully supports the rights of First Nations to hunt and fish in their traditional territories for food, social and ceremonial purposes and the commitment to conservation and habitat restoration is shared between First Nations and non-First Nations.
“For years both Treaty 8 Nations and the BCWF have pushed the provincial government to focus on wildlife management, controlled burns and habitat restoration in the region. In several cases, our clubs and partners have done all the work the province should be doing, even paying for controlled burns only to have the government refuse to approve them. Now, after years of failing to do anything for wildlife, the province appears to be dividing First Nations and non-indigenous communities instead of bringing us together,” said Zeman.
In effect, the provincial government has traded away the rights of British Columbians in order to continue unsustainable industrial resource extraction, a process that has already compromised the ability of Treaty 8 First Nations to exercise their right to hunt, trap and fish and to maintain their way of life.
In taking this path, the provincial government has walked away from science-based wildlife management and is telling British Columbians it is willing to trade away their access to BC’s natural assets and outdoor recreation opportunities in order to continue unsustainable levels of resource extraction.
According to the court’s ruling, “the cumulative effects from a range of provincially authorized activities, projects and developments (associated with oil and gas, forestry, mining, hydroelectric infrastructure, agricultural clearing and other activities) within and adjacent to their traditional territory that has resulted in significant adverse impacts on the meaningful exercise of their treaty rights, and that amount to a breach of the Treaty.”
According to the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, “as part of the [interim] agreement, 195 forestry and oil and gas projects, which were permitted or authorized prior to the court decision and where activities have not yet started, will proceed.”
“The dramatic curtailment of access to healthy wildlife populations in the Peace could have unintended spillover effects if this agreement is used as a template to restrict outdoor recreation in other regions,” said Zeman.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jesse Zeman Executive Director BC Wildlife Federation
(250) 878-3799
jessezeman@gmail.com
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
It says in article that SE moose herds are vibrant but its bad cause of resource extraction. WTF?
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Yes because all the roads that industry put in for access has sure made it hard to hunt in those areas..... Or the exact opposite is true
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Sickening stuff. It’s a damn shame that it won’t get nearly the interaction or interest that some BS Covid thread would though. How can we expect the greater public to take these issues seriously when we as hunters won’t…
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
The above is claiming a complete closure of all caribou hunting in 7B as well as a dramatic reduction in moose harvest in 7B. Let that sink in.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Throwaway
Sickening stuff. It’s a damn shame that it won’t get nearly the interaction or interest that some BS Covid thread would though. How can we expect the greater public to take these issues seriously when we as hunters won’t…
Because when you try for over 40 years to help and care, dedicate your life to it, and still Government doesn't spend money on Wildlife and fish. It's managing to zero along with more damaging to residents the NDP and UNDRIP are closing our opportunity off.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Unfortunately just one more example of what's going on behind closed doors and behind the backs of Canadians by todays governments. The lack of accountability and the actions being taken because of that simply staggers common sense to even believe such dastardly deeds actually taking place!! Who did what?? Will be our usual house of commons gong show- Three fools farting in an elevator each swearing ''it wasn't me'', with no results of any consequences of positive good for Canadians.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
scttcanuck
The above is claiming a complete closure of all caribou hunting in 7B as well as a dramatic reduction in moose harvest in 7B. Let that sink in.
When will the Full list of lands banned from '' Canadians'' be revealed?????? Because this is just the tip of the iceberg I'm sure that we as sportsmen and outdoors lovers most surely feel like the hairs on the back of our necks. I will not utter the name but a certain ship comes to mind. Enjoy while we can, what we have.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
This is not just cariboo in region 7B but province wide.
This is wildlife management by social pressure not science. This is the provincial governments reaction to having lost in court for the "INDUSTRIAL" encroachment and impacts in breach of Treaty 8. The NDP has put our rights in the trash.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
BCWF and concerned people.
The B.C. government does not own the wildlife.
Wildlife is held in TRUST by the Crown, managed by the Provinces, FOR ALL PEOPLE.
ALL PEOPLE of Canada legally own ALL THE WILDLIFE!
Negotiation is not going to quell this illegal action to exclude most of THE PEOPLE from being able to consume wildlife.
This illegal action will only be squashed in court.
File an injunction.
Get this into the court system.
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Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
Hey all,
just came across something on BCWF’s social media. Looks like the BCNDP are considering trading away 50% of resident hunter moose allocation and all caribou in some areas of region 7b. This seems like a closed door deal between FN and the govt to allow resource extraction to continue after a recent court case blocked the projects from proceeding. I don’t claim to be an expert, but if this is in any way true why is this not a big deal on here? Am I missing something? Anyways. Please go to BCWF’s website and read about it, there is a video from JZ laying it all out.
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
I saw this yesterday. There's links and whatnot on BCWF for letter writing to your MLA. However I don't have much confidence that resident hunters' opinion will be considered (or valued) by our current government.
Here's a link to BCWF https://bcwf.bc.ca/peace-region-hunt...id=-2035349830
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
Interesting. First Nations oppose resource extraction because it harms there territory but they will accept that in exchange for an unlimited and an regulated hunting opportunity. Unlimited resource extraction for unlimited wildlife harvest is the deal struck? That will end well.
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
Yeah I’m not sure if the details are finalized or not. But I am sure if we don’t speak up we are screwed. Maybe we already are, but I’m not going to stay silent. On a side note, I do some work around govt engagement with the WSSBC in region 2 specifically , we are making some headway, but are sorely lacking in people who are willing to take the time to go talk to their MLA’s and voice concerns. If anyone here living in region 2 would like some help meeting with their MLA’s please private message me. I’d love to chat and give you some help based on my experiences so far.
Mitch.
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
And so the first domino falls.
I fully expect this to happen. This current government has already demonstrated that it doesn't give a rats ass about hunters. We're talking about a government that enacted legislation that makes it more difficult to conduct PAL/CORE training because you can no longer bring a firearm into a classroom for instructional purposes.
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BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in the
Please watch this important message from Jesse Zeman on a development that affects all resident hunters in British Columbia. Our press release follows, and there is information below that on how you can take action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7YEA3zxQw
https://bcwf.bc.ca/peace-region-hunting-regulations/
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
Am I correct in understanding that what Jesse is saying, is that as a result of the Blueberry Band court ruling last year that said the govt infringed on their rights, the govt just made a deal with the Blueberry FN that allows the Govt to continue with the resource extraction in their territory in exchange for not allowing hunters/anglers/campers/hikers etc on the to recreate anymore?
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
It sounds to me like the beginning of the end for non-indigenous sportsmen.
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
I think this is the 3rd thread on the same topic .. maybe a mod can merge them.
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
Based on older 2017 data, 7B was 21% of provincial Resident/Non-Resident caribou harvest but a much larger proportion of GOS caribou harvest - something around 40%.
For moose, 7B is a 1/4th of the total moose harvest in BC.
This is a huge hit that totally undermines the entire science-based wildlife management model.
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
This decision is a symptom of the control the WEF has over “progressive” politics. We could try to stem the tide at the river delta as it were, but that will fail. Like placer gold, keep following it upriver until you can access the source.
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
I also sent an email to my mla. I can only encourage everybody to do the same. While some say it’s a waste of energy, one can see clearly that in the US these activities have helped! Colorado has saved it’s mountain lion hunt via hunter engagement and WA is about to get their spring bear season back. Let’s send as many letters as possible!
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
At this point I don’t care. If I need meat I’m gonna go shoot it . Government is irrelevant at this point . Look around.
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
There is a directive reponse coming team and yes we need letters getting sent there is more clear direction coming...everybody needs to engage or the push wont stop there.
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bigdoggdon
And so the first domino falls.
I fully expect this to happen. This current government has already demonstrated that it doesn't give a rats ass about hunters. We're talking about a government that enacted legislation that makes it more difficult to conduct PAL/CORE training because you can no longer bring a firearm into a classroom for instructional purposes.
wait…what?? I didn’t see anything about this..that doesn't promote good gun safety if someone who has never seen a gun can’t handle one in a safe environment before actually going out and purchasing or borrowing one going into a hunting/target practice etc. situation..
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
Wrote to my MLA
shared to others too.
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
Everybody needs to email the mla,mp resource managers horgan get involved or loose it not just for you but forever for everyone.
As a Father,a mountain hunter, a conservationist,and a canadian this effects everybody..... and mark my words you must get envolved... the letters are just the start.
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Re: BC trades away outdoor recreation rights to continue industrial encroachment in t
Can we get a list of email addresses we should be sending to? aside from our local MLA’s?
might make it easier for some.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Walking Buffalo
BCWF and concerned people.
The B.C. government does not own the wildlife.
Wildlife is held in TRUST by the Crown, managed by the Provinces, FOR ALL PEOPLE.
ALL PEOPLE of Canada legally own ALL THE WILDLIFE!
Negotiation is not going to quell this illegal action to exclude most of THE PEOPLE from being able to consume wildlife.
This illegal action will only be squashed in court.
File an injunction.
Get this into the court system.
Ok if this is true who is going to initiate this..?
Here here everybody we need plans share them all.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Resident Hunters have no Rights, at best they have "Privileges" which can be taken away anytime without compensation.
If you want "Rights" and yes as a Resident Hunter I love to have "Rights" including when it comes to Resident hunting, then support and donate to the "Freedom Convoy" because this is likely the only Choice in our Lifetime we ever will get to make the Politicians and Governments of every Stripe Federal, Provincial and Municipal to understand the People have had enough.
Cheers
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Forks
wait…what?? I didn’t see anything about this..that doesn't promote good gun safety if someone who has never seen a gun can’t handle one in a safe environment before actually going out and purchasing or borrowing one going into a hunting/target practice etc. situation..
Last year the BC NDP passed the "Firearms Violence Prevention Act". Part of that legislation created Red Zones, places were it is now against the law to be in possession of a firearm. Those places include schools and school property, post secondary institution properties, places of worship. The very same places were the majority of PAL/CORE programs are taught. So in essence the BC NDP has outlawed firearms and hunter safety training.
The BC NDP is in no way any kind of friend to resident hunters and gun owners.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
I merged three threads, that the reason why it looks repetitive. Lots to read, MORE to do!!
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Re: Peace region moose and caribou resident allocation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mulehahn
Interesting. First Nations oppose resource extraction because it harms there territory but they will accept that in exchange for an unlimited and an regulated hunting opportunity. Unlimited resource extraction for unlimited wildlife harvest is the deal struck? That will end well.
What do you think they have now if not unlimited wildlife harvest? It's more like exclusive access to harvest wildlife eh.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steeleco
I merged three threads, that the reason why it looks repetitive. Lots to read, MORE to do!!
Good call bossman
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
email mla's etc. sure, and get the truckers onboard, they got the message out, didn't they...
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Latest poll shows 73% of Canadians oppose the tactics the "truckers" have used. Better think carefully who we align with.
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
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Re: Peace Region Moose and Northern Cariboo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Opinionated Ol Phart
Latest poll shows 73% of Canadians oppose the tactics the "truckers" have used. Better think carefully who we align with.
Hahahah you really believe any of those numbers?