BCWF- Grizzly hunt cancelled- Statement

[Rob Chipman]

Weaver *said* he would support meat retention, and in many email exchanges with me he was very reasonable and accommodating. However, you need to leaven that dough a bit. His co-party members are clearly not big on hunting, and at the time that Andrew Weaver was being very reasonable with me I spoke directly with other people who had dealt with him in the past who indicated that he was not trustworthy in their experience.

Before anyone says "Well, I told you so, why did you ever listen to him and get tricked" try to remember that when dealing with people that you suspect you disagree with it can be helpful to have them commit to positions. Later, if they stick with their original statements you know you've got a solid person. If they change you know you've got what you suspected you might get, and you have the opportunity to call them on it.


The cost? All you need to die is ask some questions and remember the answers.

So, I for one do not have a link to any proof that killing the hunt was a trade off for Site C, but I'd submit that a simple read of politics renders such a deal unimportant. Killing the hunt pays lots of dividends to a party (and yes, I mean that in some circumstances the Liberals would have killed it just as fast). If you're a politician and something pays political dividends, you do it. The name of the game in politics is...power, not conservation or doing the right thing.

For Mr. Weaver there is one thing that he needs: more power. He is currently in flash in the pan territory. He got elected because Christy Clarke stunk and pissed off a lot of people and John Horgan isn't a real winner, so didn't inspire enough people. That gave the Greens a bit of room.

Next time Christy will not be here to piss people off. Horgan will be, with an increasingly long list of accomplishments that piss people off. Weaver can either develop as an inspiring leader (who wants to bet he can do that?), follow the path of Elizabeth May and be a perennial loser hang around, or....

...get proportional representation through, in which case he's set for the long run.

Anyone who's good at reading policy statements and who is concerned about conservation might take some time to review the proposed proportional rep system. I know Bill Tillman, long time NDP stalwart, opposes it. He sees fringe parties, not all of them pro-NDP, or "progressive" emerging. He fears far-right parties.

Is there room for a weird, single issue party? They've got them in Israel and they exercise significant power on certain issues. Food for thought.

[wideopenthrottle]

http://www.andrewweavermla.ca/2017/0...y-bear-policy/

I did find this with google

BC Greens slam NDP proposal to end trophy hunting of grizzly bears

• Local

by Martin MacMahon
Posted Aug 15, 2017 11:29 am PST
Last Updated Aug 15, 2017 at 11:40 am PST

(iStock Photo)





Summary

Andrew Weaver says NDP plan won't please environmentalists nor hunters



Today the BC NDP claimed to set the stage for banning trophy hunting of grizzly bears in British Columbia. In what can only be described as a political stunt, the BC NDP announced that “effective Nov. 30, 2017, the British Columbia government will end grizzly bear trophy hunting throughout the province.” They further proclaimed “while the trophy hunt will end, hunting for meat will be allowed to continue.”
In response to their announcement I issued a statement, reproduced below.
As you will see, I am very supportive of the fact that the B.C. NDP are respecting the wishes of the Coastal First Nations by placing a moratorium on the hunting of grizzlies in the Great Bear Rainforest. Readers of this website will know that I called for this back in February, 2014 (3 1/2 years ago). However, during the election campaign I pointed out that the B.C. NDP appeared to be trying to have their cake and eat it too when it came to the grizzly hunt. They told the hunting community one thing and the environmental community another.
Today’s announcement will not end grizzly bear hunting in B.C., as many environmental groups have advocated for.
In addition, this announcement will create a system in which not all of the animal will be harvested – resident hunters will no longer be allowed to possess the hair, head and hide of grizzlies. This will be viewed as wasteful by the resident hunting community.
Foreign hunters will still be able to shoot grizzlies in British Columbia, take a picture of themselves standing over the dead beast, and head back home without harvesting any of the animal.
What’s remarkable is that when I introduced legislation in the Spring of 2017 targeted at foreign trophy hunters the BC NDP did not support it. Now, they introduce a mishmash approach that makes little sense.
I’m not sure how this will appease the concerns of anyone. It appears to me that the NDP were trying to play to environmental voters in the election campaign without thinking through their policies. What we really need in BC is science-based approach to wildlife management, not a populist approach to species management.

---

Media Release

---

Weaver statement on government’s intention to end the grizzly bear trophy hunt
For immediate release
August 14, 2017
VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green caucus, responded to today’s news regarding grizzly bear hunting in British Columbia. Weaver has long advocated for action on this issue.
“I am encouraged that the B.C. NDP are respecting the wishes of the Coastal First Nations by placing a moratorium on the hunting of grizzlies in the Great Bear Rainforest,” says Weaver.
Weaver further cautions “During the election campaign I pointed out that the B.C. NDP appeared to be trying to have their cake and eat it too when it came to the grizzly hunt. They told the hunting community one thing and the environmental community another.”
Today’s announcement will not end grizzly bear hunting in B.C., as many environmental groups have advocated for.
In addition, this announcement will create a system in which not all of the animal will be harvested – resident hunters will no longer be allowed to possess the hair, head and hide of grizzlies. This will be viewed as wasteful by the resident hunting community.
In addition, foreign hunters will still be able to shoot grizzlies in British Columbia, take a picture of themselves standing over the dead beast, and head back home without harvesting any of the animal.
Weaver adds “I’m not sure how this will appease the concerns of anyone. It appears to me that the NDP were trying to play to environmental voters in the election campaign without thinking through their policies.
“What we really need in BC is science-based approach to wildlife management, not a populist approach to species management.
“B.C. is one of the last strongholds of grizzlies in North America. There are a range of issues that affect the health of grizzly bear populations. These include the effects of climate change on essential salmon and huckleberry stocks, as well as road kill rates and poaching incidents. We must focus on broader wildlife preservation if we are serious about conservation and the protection of grizzlies and other species in this province.
“B.C. and Alberta are the only provinces without Endangered Species legislation. I will work with the government to ensure the introduction of species at risk legislation is advanced in the near future,” says Weaver.

-30-

[Bear Chaser]

I read the above statements from one AWeaver to mean he wanted an outright ban in the first place due to his happiness with a moratorium on the hunt in the coastal forest where there was no conservation need proven in the first place.
Funny thing the about science based decision making he advocates is it cuts on both sides of an issue. No science based need for a cut to the hunt and he expressed glee about it? Hmm I wonder where his loyalties lie. Certainly not with hunters of any stripe.
Don’t be fooled people.
The GreeNDP are not here to support our activities. Banning the grizzly hunt is just the beginning of their chicanery.

[Fisher-Dude]

I told hunters on this site to watch Andrew Weaver in this news story, well before the election, and that voting for him was voting for the end of grizzly hunting in BC.

Hunters called me a fear monger and they defended Weaver as a friend of hunters.

Watch from 8:30 onward in the video if time is short.

https://globalnews.ca/video/1071028/...y-bear-viewing

[Ride Red]

Weaver has always and will always have an agenda. Working with hunters will NEVER happen.

[huntwriter]

Hunters called me a fear monger and they defended Weaver as a friend of hunters.

The same here. When I told Green friendly hunters to be careful what they vote for I was told not to be so pessimistic. Sad to say "I told you so". Many hunters fell for Weaver and now they cry.

[Walking Buffalo]

Does anyone have a link to any news article that explicitly states that the outright ban on griz was initiated by Weaver and the greens as a trade off for site "C" rather than some reporter interpreting it that way...it seems to me that Weaver was more into changes that included meat retention than the NDP who already had a history of banning the griz hunt....

This article clearly shows Weaver's thoughts on allowing any bears to be killed.


A statement from the BC Green Party leader ( NDP and Green Alliance government) in explaining the reasoning for their new Grizzly Bear hunting ban.




"The government said in August it would ban “trophy hunting” of grizzly bears but still allow a “meat hunt,” meaning hunters could still bag a grizzly as long as they harvested the animal’s meat but not its head or hide.

Anti-hunting critics called it a loophole.

“A hunter could still take a photo with a dead bear,” Green party Leader Andrew Weaver pointed out. “In the Instagram age, that’s the most sought-after trophy.”"


https://www.pressreader.com/canada/e...81694025144743

[180grainer]

I told hunters on this site to watch Andrew Weaver in this news story, well before the election, and that voting for him was voting for the end of grizzly hunting in BC.

Hunters called me a fear monger and they defended Weaver as a friend of hunters.

Watch from 8:30 onward in the video if time is short.

https://globalnews.ca/video/1071028/...y-bear-viewing

It was somewhat disgusting to listen to Weaver. One thing is for sure. If Mr Weaver gets any type of power, be prepared for him to ram his ideology/morality down your throat regardless of what the issue is or what facts or reality say about it. A true Socialist.

[303savage]

Using post-truth era consultative techniques the B.C. government has now decided to ban grizzly bear hunting to all but First Nations hunters.

If they are going Ban Grizzly hunting for all people, Not just us white people.

[HappyJack]

If they are going Ban Grizzly hunting for all people, Not just us white people.

All you need is about 500 pissed off grizzly hunters to stage a hunt all together....what they going to do throw you all in jail?? Sometimes instead of just making noise you have to take some action. Remember it's not a right if you don't exercise it.