Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Mar 31/00) - When it comes to the Wildlife Act, there are more questions than answers right now.

The 20-year-old NWT legislation on wildlife is in the early stages of a complete overhaul. Renewable Resources officer Ken Davidge completed a tour of Deh Cho communities with an open house in Fort Simpson earlier this month to inform individuals and organizations about the possibilities and to answers questions on the subject.

The Wildlife Act not only pertains to hunting, but to all day-to-day laws and regulations regarding wildlife, Davidge said. Some suggestions being considered to protect certain animal populations include limiting moose hunting to bulls only and reducing the number of barren-ground caribou tags allocated each year, according to Davidge.

There's also the possibility of restricting the use of trucks, boats, planes, helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles by hunters and those in wildlife habitat areas.

There are many questions to be answered. For instance: What is considered meat wastage and what should be done about it? Should baiting animals be permissible for hunters? Who should qualify as an outfitter or a guide? How should the importing and exporting of wildlife be managed and enforced?

Davidge noted there is a growing black market for animal parts and it's of greater concern in the NWT every year. Subsequently, another aspect of the act that could be changed is the penalties. Next to Prince Edward Island, the NWT currently has the lowest penalties in Canada with a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or 12 months in jail. In Manitoba the fines can reach up to $50,000 per offence.

Part of the new legislation will specifically focus on protecting species at risk, that could include game animals or non-game animals, even some types of endangered plants or wildlife habitat may be taken into account, Davidge said.

Among the species considered to be endangered or at risk, are the wood bison, Peary caribou, whooping crane, peregrine falcon and bowhead whale. Some of those species are beginning to recover as efforts have been made to improve their well being, such as sanctuaries for bison.

The new act will respect aboriginal rights and will be created to reflect the existing land claims agreements in the NWT, Davidge added.

A discussion paper on the new Wildlife Act will be submitted to cabinet near the end of the month. More consultation with the public is to follow during the fall or winter. The document will then undergo revisions before moving through the legislation process. It is expected that a bill will be passed by 2002.

Written suggestions can still be submitted to the GNWT on the matter or a visit with a local Renewable Resource officer is an option, Davidge said. Most people he has talked to so far are overwhelmed by the scope of the undertaking, he remarked.

"They say, 'Boy, that's a lot of stuff to think about. We need more time,'" he said. "A lot of this has just got individuals to start thinking."