To the editor:
The provincial government seems to have listened to the outrage of British Columbia resident hunters and is considering some changes to the allotment for the Guide-Outfitters Association of BC.
This sounds like they are listening to us, but an Order in Council was passed stating that guides who exceed their quota do not commit an offence.
This is under general Wildlife Act section 16, look it up. So not only do they still get an increase in their quota, the quota does not really exist, as they can exceed it without any consequence.
I think, that at the very least, guides should be able to count (was that one grizzly bear I can sell or six?) Apparently, it does not matter.
There are back-door ways for the government to cater to the guide-outfitters that is what is exactly happening.
As for our local MLA [Donna Barnett], she says she does not pick sides, so that means she does absolutely nothing for any of us.
There is no wildlife management in B.C., no forestry management and no managing of mines. With proper management, we would not be having this confrontation.
Other countries much smaller than ours manage their game way better than we do. (Sweden, Norway and Finland) have way more moose than we do.
I believe Quebec does a better job and everyone has enough to go around. I would like to see the same for here.
With First Nations treaties going how they have and the government trying to give more away to guides, the majority of taxpaying hunters is getting squeezed out.
George Ostoforoff
100 Mile House