April 17, 2014
Manitoba Government Proposing Further Steps That Would Protect Fish, Wildlife Resources
– – –Legislation would be First in Canada to Pursue Restitution from Offenders: Minister Mackintosh
Manitoba has introduced first-of-its-kind legislation in Canada that would hold offenders accountable for illegal harvesting of fish or wildlife requiring them to pay restitution above fines already in place, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
“Protecting our fish and wildlife for future generations is more important than ever and those who choose to illegally harvest and kill these animals need to compensate Manitobans for this loss,” Minister Mackintosh said. “Poachers must pay the real price and can’t be robbing Manitoba of its natural bounty. The monies collected will be directed to the newly established Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund to support projects that conserve, protect and invest in our provincial fish and wildlife resources.”
Under the proposed legislation, individuals convicted of an offence where fish were unlawfully harvested or possessed, or wildlife were unlawfully killed, transported or possessed, would pay restitution above fines already in place to be determined following further review and consultation and would be implemented in early 2015.
For example, the proposed restitution for a conviction involving a walleye fish could be about $40 and could range from $500 to $4,000 for a white tailed deer. The minister noted the department would consult widely before finalizing restitution amounts.
Restitution amounts would double for offences in areas closed to hunting or incidents involving protected species. This approach would reflect the damage and severity of these infractions and would act as a more-effective deterrent than the current fine system alone, Minister Mackintosh said.
“This is a great deterrent and it’s only fitting that those who fail to respect the rules and laws should pay for what they’ve taken,” said Rob Olson, managing director, Manitoba Wildlife Federation. “The vast majority of hunters know and respect the rules and it’s great to see the penalties will be used to help replace what was taken illegally.”
The proposed creation of set values for poaching fish and wild animals would place Manitoba at the forefront of conserving valuable natural resources, the minister said.
“Healthy fish and wildlife populations are the foundation of Manitoba’s outdoor tourism industry so we are highly supportive of any new measures that can help deter poaching of these resources,” said Paul Turenne, executive director, Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association. “We are pleased to see fines for those convicted of these crimes going towards management efforts because we all want to ensure the province’s fish and wildlife populations continue to be abundant and healthy for years to come.”
“I want to both commend and congratulate the province on this precedent-setting legislation,” said David Carrick, founder and past-president, Fish Futures. “Anglers have always taken the position that any restitution penalties associated with fisheries-related offences should go back into Manitoba’s fisheries resources and this ensures that will happen for both fish and wildlife.”
This approach would demonstrate the provincial government’s commitment to protecting and conserving the long-term sustainability of natural resources and, as it moves to finalize the regulations and restitution amounts, the province will consult with stakeholders, added the minister.
Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship is also working with the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, Manitoba Lodge and Outfitters Association and the Manitoba Natural Resource Officers Association to continue to promote and enhance the Turn in Poachers (TIPS) program. To report any incidents involving natural resource violations, call TIPS at 1-800-782-0076 (toll-free).
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