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Outfitters breathe sigh of relief

U.S. border opens to Northern meat

Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 13/03) - Yellowknife area outfitters are welcoming the US Department of Agriculture's decision to lift a ban on wild meat imports.

"We're obviously extremely pleased," said Amanda Peterson, general manager of Peterson's Point Lake Lodge.

"The ban on imports has had a negative effect on our business."

The United States closed its border to Canadian ruminants --animals that chew their cud-- on May 20, following the discovery of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta.

It wasn't until last Friday that the country decided to partially lift its ban on Canadian meat.

Great Slave MLA Bill Braden estimates that big game hunting is worth $20 million a year to the NWT and said the ban had the potential to devastate the outfitting industry.

"Many hunters like to take their meat back home with them ... and the ban limited our ability to be competitive (with other hunting destinations)," he said.

"I understand the need for safety, but I think the Americans were being overly cautious."

Some Yellowknife outfitters say they emerged from the crisis relatively unscathed, but a prolonged ban would have put a damper on business.

"I didn't have any cancellations but inquiries (for next year) are dead," said outfitter Barry Taylor who estimated that 95 per cent of his clients are American.

Peterson also noticed a decrease in the number of reservations for the upcoming seasons.

"New bookings have been hard to make," she said.

"We've been working hard to contact our clients and let them know they'll be allowed to bring their meat home. Hopefully now, it won't be as difficult."

The hunting season kicks off on Aug. 16 and most Yellowknife area outfitters will lead expeditions until late September.

American hunters will still need a special permit to transport their kill across the border along with a hunting licence, valid tags or an export certificate.