BCWF calls for increased wildlife funding

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Wildlife Federation wants to see funding for conservation efforts become a top priority for the provincial government after the upcoming provincial election.

The federation hosted a town hall in Fort St. John on Thursday, June 20th, in partnership with the North Peace Rod and Gun Club.

Conservation, Hunting, Angling and Firearms Policy & Engagement Coordinator Steve Hamilton, who lead the town hall, spoke with Energeticcity about the event on the June 21st episode of This Week in the Peace.

“It’s no secret, if you’re paying attention to the outdoors, fish, wildlife and habitat, that it’s been drastically underfunded, for coming up on fifty, sixty, seventy years,” Hamilton said. 

“What we’re trying to do is bring this to the general public’s attention, and when the ballot’s put in front of them this October, we’re hoping that they’re going to take a little bit of the information that we’re giving them, and use it to put wildlife first and to hold their elected officials accountable.”

According to Hamilton, the BCWF wants wildlife management taken out of the hands of the government, so that it stops being a political issue.

“It’s being used as a bargaining tool, it’s being used as a pawn, and we owe our wildlife more than that,” Hamilton said, adding that there’s been a sharp decline in wildlife funding over the last 70 years.

“Imagine a flat graph, and then get flatter than that,” he said.

In terms of specific programs, Hamilton said more funding needs to be allocated for cultural and prescription burns, better inventory counts for animals, and more money to pay conservation officers.

The BCWF is trying to hit “literally everywhere” as it tours the province hosting town halls. 

Hamilton encourages residents who were unable to attend Thursday night’s event to visit the BCWF website to learn more.