Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok said B.C.’s approach to wildlife management needs improvement to stabilize animal populations.
“We have to start approaching things more from a scientific viewpoint and get those numbers back up,” said Clovechok. “There are lots of things that can and should be done.”
Clovechok said the government needs to recognize the value of B.C.’s wildlife and take their protection seriously.
“Whether it’s predator control, limiting fencing or whatever it is, we need to progressively look at these things all together, scientifically, and look for solutions,” said Clovechok. “This isn’t on any government. This started back in the 50s, and we’ve done a really bad job at it.”
Earlier this year, Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka put forward a private member’s bill proposing amendments to B.C.’s Wildlife Management Act.
The bill would introduce an independent funding model aimed at using dedicated funds for research and planning strategies for managing the province’s wildlife.
Clovechok has stated his support for the amendments.
“There needs to be an organization that is outside of government, but accountable to them, that manages wildlife. They do it in Oregon, Wyoming and Montana and it works,” said Clovechok. “Government has to get out of the business of managing wildlife and let the people who know what they’re doing take control. I am completely supportive of Tom’s private member’s bill.”
The MLA said the issue of wildlife population goes beyond party lines.
“Everybody has to stop the partisan nonsense on this and start doing it right,” said Clovechok. “This isn’t rocket science, there’s a benchmark we can go look at. It’s time we got serious and just do it.”
