NEWS RELEASE
Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release
Double standard for caribou hunting unacceptable: Edmunds
Torngat Mountains MHA and Liberal Opposition Environment and Conservation Critic, Randy Edmunds stated today that he is very concerned that some Quebec residents are once again being allowed to harvest caribou from the George River Caribou herd. Edmunds stated that this is happening in Labrador without any restriction whatsoever.
“Labrador hunters have just been subjected to very strict conservation measures on this herd, drastically restricting their harvesting privileges in the interest of conservation,” says Edmunds. “We fully support these measures, yet, some Quebec residents are free to slaughter the herd in Labrador without any reprisals from the Dunderdale Government. This is unacceptable and reflects a double standard that discriminates against our people.”
On December 19, 2011, Environment and Conservation Minister Terry French implemented measures restricting licence holders to one caribou and suspending the licence transfer system. The measures were implemented following extensive consultations and a review of current information on the herd’s status which showed that their population in 2010 was approximately 50,000.
“This appears to be a repeat of 2010 when conservation officers who attempted to stop the slaughter of George River caribou by Quebec Aboriginals were severely reprimanded for their actions by then Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale,” added Edmunds. “If Premier Dunderdale, Minister French and Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Nick McGrath are really serious about the sustainability of this herd, then it’s time for them to take action to prevent this slaughter.”- 30 -
Media Contact:
Peter Miles| Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
(709) 729-6151 petermiles@gov.nl.ca