I rise today to inform the House of the results of increased efforts by this government to protect the threatened woodland caribou herds in southern Labrador from illegal hunting.

Our government committed $69,300 in new funding in the Northern Strategic Plan for regular routine air patrols of threatened caribou herds. We felt that increased patrols would help our conservation officers to intercept illegal hunters and prevent animals from being killed.

Our increased presence this season began in late January. I am pleased to report that our conservation officers have found no sign of illegal activity or hunting in the area to date. This is very encouraging given that in each of the past two years nearly 40 animals were illegally killed from these protected herds.

The taking of any animals in herds this size is unacceptable and threatens the safeguarding and preservation of these herds. In the case of the Joir River Group, only 100 animals remain while woodland caribou are nearly extinct from the Birch Lakes of the Mealy Mountains.

The additional funding made available through the Northern Strategic Plan allowed our conservation officers to better plan enforcement efforts and patrols of these areas.

The woodland caribou herds of Southern Labrador are protected by endangered species legislation and no hunting is permitted on these herds. It was anticipated that the regular patrols of areas known for illegal hunting would discourage potential violators from engaging in this activity and we believe we have been successful.

This government takes very seriously its responsibility to protect our natural resources and we will take the appropriate action against anyone engaging in illegal hunting activity.

An important part of our enforcement efforts is to ensure that hunters are aware that our conservation officers are regularly patrolling these areas and violators will be prosecuted.

As a result of our increased presence this winter, hunters did not take the chance of illegally hunting in these areas.

I want to thank our conservation officers for their dedicated efforts in protecting these herds.

2008 04 17                                                    1:45 p.m.