CWS cuts curbed

By JEFF HELSDON, Ontario OUT OF DOORS
Volume 39, Issue 9, Fall 2007

What was called a huge threat to the future of waterfowl hunting appears to have been averted by intervention from federal environment minister John Baird.

Cuts to the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) could have resulted in an end to its migratory-bird programmes, including spring waterfowl surveys, and Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC), a charitable corporation created in 1984 as a funding agency for habitat projects with partners across the country. WHC gets funding from the $8.50 federal duck stamp issued with $8.50 migratory-bird permits.

“This is a huge threat to hunting,“ said Dr. Bob Bailey, Delta Waterfowl Foundation’s vice-president of policy for Canada. “In order to hunt migratory birds we need to know they are well managed. We need research on species not doing as well. We can’t go on harvesting a resource withough a scientific foundation.“

Bailey heard rumblings something was happening early in 2007. The issue started to come to a head in late summer when budget problems became apparent and there was talk of dividing the programmes within the CWS. “There seemed to be a move to eliminate the CWS as an entity,“ Bailey said.

He points out migratory-bird management is a joint responsibility between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Seasons and bag limits are set based on spring survey data from Canada.

In August, the CWS announced a review of WHC and the duck-stamp programme. Stamp revenue currently goes to WHC to distribute. Review options were the status quo, assigning stamp revenue to fund operation of National Wildlife Areas (no-hunting zones), delivering conservation programmes through a non-government partnership, and eliminating the stamp programme, but still charging hunters the $8.50.

Dave Ankney, retired zoology professor and past-president of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), learned in early September a complete review of all CWS programmes was underway. “I’m not opposed to such reviews as long as it’s done right,“ he said. “Is it being done to make things better or just simply to make cuts?“

Bailey led a group of 27 conservation organizations from across the country in a teleconference to discuss the issues. The consensus was they wanted both the CWS and WHC to survive. The coalition sent a letter in support of WHC and maintaining the duck stamp programme to Baird on Sept. 23.

Two days later, Baird issued a statement that funding environmental programmes in the CWS remains a priority. “I have instructed my department to provide the finanical flexibility required to programmes and services in critical areas, such as the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Meteorological Service of Canada, so that they are maintained. There will be no layoffs of indeterminate staff,“ he said.

Eric Richer, Baird’s press secretary, when asked about reviews of WHC and the stamp programme, further specified all programmes would be maintained. “It implies in there what the direction is,“ he said of Baird‘s statement.

Ducks Unlimited Canadad issued a press release October 2 stating it also had sent a letter to the conservation programme director of the CWS urging continuing with the duck stamp and maintaining WHC as the fund distributor.

One of Ankney’s sources, however, still believes CWS migratory-bird programmes are threatened.

Copyright 2007 Ontario OUT OF DOORS. Republished here with the permission of Ontario OUT OF DOORS. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without the express approval of the Ontario OUT OF DOORS.