Species control: For a
humane non-lethal option

Canadian tax dollars, trained dogs and restricted assault rifles used to slaughter wildlife

By Georges R. Dupras

November 7, 2024

As expected, and against the wishes of most Canadians, Parks Canada has launched the second phase of its offensive towards all the deer on Sidney Island, British Columbia. This area is located off the coast of British Columbia.

The species in the crosshairs of Parks Canada include Fallow Deer, a species introduced by hunters, and native Black-tailed Deer. Regrettably, it is too late for us to stop this, the second half of a slaughter which began last year. This flagrant misuse of public funds should never have been authorized. To date, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, The Honourable Steven Guilbeault has not responded to recommendations promoting a modern, non-lethal approach to wildlife management.

… the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, The Honourable Steven Guilbeault has not responded to recommendations promoting a modern, non-lethal approach to wildlife management.

At a time when the people of Canada are being asked to accept cutbacks in essential services, Parks Canada is spending 5.9 million dollars of your hard-earned money on this eradication program. The budget for this restoration plan is estimated at $12 million.

Further to this waste of our tax money is the knowledge that Parks Canada will import foreign sharpshooters with armed restricted assault rifles (CZ Bren 2 Ms rifles) designed for war. This imported talent will be assisted by specially trained dogs: scent dogs to attract the deer, then Bailer dogs to chase down the deer.

Parks Canada still resists any non-lethal alternatives tabled by those who wish to modernize wildlife management, options such as immunocontraception which has been used successfully in Oak Bay on Vancouver Island for example. Residents of Sidney Island proposed the non-lethal approach but were refused. No outside observers will be allowed to monitor the slaughter, a matter of transparency of government-funded programs.

‘At a time when the people of Canada are being asked to accept cutbacks in essential services, Parks Canada is spending 5.9 million dollars of your hard-earned money on this eradication program. The budget for this restoration plan is estimated at $12 million.’

Should Parks Canada be allowed to manage parks and wildlife according to its own criteria, no matter how dated and ineffective? What example are we given our youth when we resort to violence to suit our own interests? Change is long overdue, and I urge you to contact the Minister of the Environment and Climate Canada and make your feelings for change known to him.

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Email: Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

Feature image: Fallow deer and fawn by Jos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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