Government must do more to protect Red Wine caribou herd 

Government has done a very poor job in managing the protection and conservation of the Red Wine caribou herd in Labrador and better protection measures and consistency as to when the laws are enforced are crucial to ensure their survival, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.

“The Quebec Innu have been hunting in our province consistently for the past four years, yet we are no further ahead in ensuring the Red Wine herd is protected,” said Ms. Jones. “Each year we get similar warnings and statements from government about the Quebec Innu hunt, however, no charges are ever laid and they come back every year. Meanwhile, Metis hunters, Innu hunters and non-aboriginal hunters in Labrador are charged and personal items sometimes confiscated. Why is there no standard application of conservation laws to protect against hunting in closed zones? If there are laws in place, they should be applied consistently to all people.

“The long and the short of it is that the province has shown itself to be incapable of managing the protected herd in today’s context of accessibility to the land. This government uses lots of rhetoric and threats, but is failing miserably when it comes time to act.”

 In addition to a more consistent standard of justice, Jones feels better protection measures are needed to identify and monitor the Red Wine caribou herd and their migration patterns.

“The government is continuously stating that there are less than one hundred animals left in the herd and they are mixing with the Mealy Mountain and George River herds. The only way to know where these animals are on a daily basis and set up the appropriate zones for closure is to monitor their activities. This can be achieved by tracking collars that will ensure there is no confusion as to which herd of animals is being identified at any given time and their location. The government uses this approach with other species, why not do the same to protect caribou?

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