bridger
03-12-2011, 07:57 AM
here is a letter the bcwf wildlife committee chair sent to the minister a few days ago which is self explanatory
BC WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Unit 101 – 3060 Norland Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6
Telephone: 604-291-9990 Fax: 604-291-9933
Toll Free: 1-888-881 BCWF (2293)
officeinfo@bcwf.bc.ca www.bcwf.bc.ca (http://www.bcwf.bc.ca)
Minister Steve Thomson
Ministry of Natural Resources Operations
Room 027
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
March 8, 2011
Dear Minister Thomson,
Re: Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy Review
The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) would like to express concern in regards to the contract issued by the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations to review the impact of the Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy on guide-outfitters.
It is disheartening this contract was issued when multiple assurances that the policy would be implemented in 2012 were given by both Minister Barry Penner and the Deputy Minister of Environment.
Attached is a copy of a letter to the President of the BCWF received last year confirming the policy would be implemented in its entirety, after it was committed to by the Minister at the BCWF Annual General Meeting in Prince George.
The Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy was developed over three years of negotiations, and was eventually agreed to by the GOABC, BCWF, and BC Trappers Assn. The policy consists of 8 supporting documents in addition to the Harvest Allocation Policy.
According to the terms of reference all the documents except the Harvest Allocation Policy document are subject to review. This is equivalent to a full-fledged review and/or overhaul of the policies and
procedures that took 3 years of negotiation to develop, 4 years to implement, and expected to be completed in a mere 6 weeks time period. These are policies and procedures that were agreed to by all parties.
The BCWF would like to point out again, that under the new Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy guide-outfitters in BC enjoy the best allocation of wildlife compared to almost all jurisdictions across North America.
Also, BC has had one of the greatest declines in resident hunters in North America. Part of that decline can be correlated to regulations and harvest strategies which favour guide-outfitters and the increased share of wildlife given to guide-outfitters in BC over the last 30 years.
The BCWF has been supportive of the Ministry and policy since it was introduced, even though there were items which were disregarded from the onset and decisions that are contrary to policy analysis that have benefited guide-outfitters. The BCWF did not make an issue of what it
felt were weaknesses in the policy and continued to support government. Immediately after the policy was signed there were attempts by GOABC to undermine the policy and slow reaction, adoption and in some cases blatant disregard by government representatives.
It appears government has reacted to the commercial sector and has left resident hunters of British Columbia in the lurch.
The BCWF looks to full implementation of the current allocation policy in 2012 as committed to by the provincial government. The BCWF sees the contract as wasteful spending, particularly in times when resources are so few that adequate funding is not available for basic wildlife inventory.
The BCWF expects government to honour its commitment and follow its own policy.
Yours Truly
Chairman, Wildlife Committee, BC Wildlife Federation
CC: Jody Shimkus ADM,
Doug Konkin Ministry Of Environment Assistant Deputy Minister,
Tom Ethier Director Fish And Wildlife Branch
BC WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Unit 101 – 3060 Norland Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6
Telephone: 604-291-9990 Fax: 604-291-9933
Toll Free: 1-888-881 BCWF (2293)
officeinfo@bcwf.bc.ca www.bcwf.bc.ca (http://www.bcwf.bc.ca)
Minister Steve Thomson
Ministry of Natural Resources Operations
Room 027
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
March 8, 2011
Dear Minister Thomson,
Re: Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy Review
The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) would like to express concern in regards to the contract issued by the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations to review the impact of the Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy on guide-outfitters.
It is disheartening this contract was issued when multiple assurances that the policy would be implemented in 2012 were given by both Minister Barry Penner and the Deputy Minister of Environment.
Attached is a copy of a letter to the President of the BCWF received last year confirming the policy would be implemented in its entirety, after it was committed to by the Minister at the BCWF Annual General Meeting in Prince George.
The Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy was developed over three years of negotiations, and was eventually agreed to by the GOABC, BCWF, and BC Trappers Assn. The policy consists of 8 supporting documents in addition to the Harvest Allocation Policy.
According to the terms of reference all the documents except the Harvest Allocation Policy document are subject to review. This is equivalent to a full-fledged review and/or overhaul of the policies and
procedures that took 3 years of negotiation to develop, 4 years to implement, and expected to be completed in a mere 6 weeks time period. These are policies and procedures that were agreed to by all parties.
The BCWF would like to point out again, that under the new Provincial Wildlife Allocation Policy guide-outfitters in BC enjoy the best allocation of wildlife compared to almost all jurisdictions across North America.
Also, BC has had one of the greatest declines in resident hunters in North America. Part of that decline can be correlated to regulations and harvest strategies which favour guide-outfitters and the increased share of wildlife given to guide-outfitters in BC over the last 30 years.
The BCWF has been supportive of the Ministry and policy since it was introduced, even though there were items which were disregarded from the onset and decisions that are contrary to policy analysis that have benefited guide-outfitters. The BCWF did not make an issue of what it
felt were weaknesses in the policy and continued to support government. Immediately after the policy was signed there were attempts by GOABC to undermine the policy and slow reaction, adoption and in some cases blatant disregard by government representatives.
It appears government has reacted to the commercial sector and has left resident hunters of British Columbia in the lurch.
The BCWF looks to full implementation of the current allocation policy in 2012 as committed to by the provincial government. The BCWF sees the contract as wasteful spending, particularly in times when resources are so few that adequate funding is not available for basic wildlife inventory.
The BCWF expects government to honour its commitment and follow its own policy.
Yours Truly
Chairman, Wildlife Committee, BC Wildlife Federation
CC: Jody Shimkus ADM,
Doug Konkin Ministry Of Environment Assistant Deputy Minister,
Tom Ethier Director Fish And Wildlife Branch