More than 150 grizzlies killed as NDP mulled hunting policy

VANCOUVER — Hunters killed more than 150 grizzly bears in B.C. — one-third of them females — during the time it took the NDP government to make a decision to ban the hunting of grizzlies for trophies or food.

NDP Leader John Horgan, with help from the Green party, formed a minority government after the May 9 provincial election that led to the resignation of Liberal leader Christy Clark.

On August 14, the NDP announced a B.C.-wide ban on trophy hunting of grizzly bears, while allowing hunting to continue for meat outside the Great Bear Rainforest.

That ban took effect on Nov. 30, which meant the fall trophy hunt continued as usual.

Then, on Dec. 18, after hearing from the public and stakeholders, the NDP announced a policy reversal, immediately implementing a total ban on hunting of grizzlies for trophies and food.

That government announcement came too late for 159 grizzlies killed during the fall hunt, including 53 females.

A total of 307 grizzlies were killed by hunters in all of 2017, a 30 per cent increase from 235 in 2016 and the highest in years, reports the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

Ian McAllister of Pacific Wild lamented what he considered the needless deaths of grizzlies due to political inaction.

“Every part of the so-called meat hunt issue was flawed from the beginning,” he said. “We tried every conceivable way to explain this to both the Greens and the NDP before the last fall hunt, but tragically, it fell on deaf ears.”

“If they had focused on the conservation of grizzly bears while listening to the vast majority of British Columbians from the very beginning, over 150 grizzly bears would still be alive today.”

The only exception to the hunting ban on grizzlies is First Nations, who maintain an Aboriginal right to hunt grizzlies for food, social and ceremonial purposes.