The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation:

Consultations Feedback Will Inform New Moose Management Plan

Mr. Speaker, it is a priority of our government to ensure the sustainable management of our moose populations, along with other wildlife species. Of course, this ongoing responsibility must be balanced with the interests and safety of the residents of our province.

Moose have become firmly established in the social, cultural and economic fabric of the province, particularly in rural areas. Mr. Speaker, under a model first adopted in the 1970s, moose are managed to maximize their value and benefits, while mitigating against negative aspects, particularly moose-vehicle collisions which can have significant consequences on the people of our province.

With this in mind, we recently conducted a series of public consultations throughout the province to gather input from stakeholders and the general public on the development of a new five-year moose management plan for the island portion of the province. The sessions provided a forum to discuss how moose are currently managed, solicited feedback to be considered in future management decisions, and provided an overall understanding of how the public views the resource. Through the public sessions, online survey and written comments, we received more than 2,000 submissions. I would like to thank all those who provided us with such valuable feedback during the process.

Mr. Speaker, it is our goal to continue to manage moose populations in the province to provide maximum benefits to all residents and maintain healthy and sustainable wildlife habitats. We must also continue to recognize their importance from a cultural, social, recreational and economic standpoint. Through the consultations process, we wanted to hear first-hand the various perceptions and opinions on moose management in the province, and capture any factors that differentiate one region of the province from another, if indeed they do exist.

Our new five-year moose management plan will provide direction that will guide the annual planning process that considers moose management areas, licensing regime, establishment of optimal populations by management area, and the development of appropriate strategies to meet the commitments of the new plan.

Mr. Speaker, our five-year plan will encompass many factors and be a balanced and informed approach to moose management in the province, based on both public input and science.

2012 11 21                           2:25 p.m.