Stikine MLA wants Hunting Allocation Numbers for 2012 Released - CFTK-TV
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says the hunting allocation numbers for big game species; need to be released before it has an impact on local guide outfitters businesses.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has been amending the harvest allocation numbers for the past five years, and Donaldson says it’s time the numbers were released. He questioned the Minister two weeks ago, and says he’s concerned about the delay in getting the allocation numbers to the people who depend on the hunting industry for their livelihood. “I’m very concerned about the unnecessary delay in the fact that the Minister said he’s have the allocations out by the end of last week, after I asked him in question period to commit to that, and it didn’t happen. And I’m concerned because the implications on small businesses, whether they’re retail businesses that services hunters, or whether the guide outfitting industry in BC, and in Stikine which is really dependant on these numbers being released.”
He says not knowing how the province will divide hunting allocations between resident hunters and guide outfitters, is creating uncertainty. “They have trade shows starting up January 5th, they still don’t know there numbers that they can sell to their clients, and that’s directly because the government has not made a decision about allocation. It’s important for guides, it’s important for resident hunters and it’s important for the business community, and I just don’t see why they’re taking so long to make this decision.”
The new harvest allocation policy has been 5 years in the making. It is due for implementation in 2012.