Editor:
We take the position that recently announced changes to regulations that allow indiscriminate killing of wolves is the worst kind of government policy made on the poorest kind of evidence.
Because the present government has chosen to gut the environment ministry we will see more wildlife policy made on the basis of anecdotal evidence.
While we have no doubt most ranchers are responsible and careful managers of their herds, others lack the resources or ability to do so.
Consequently, it is too easy to blame predators like wolves and grizzlies for the losses they can ill afford when the actual losses may be due to other causes including bad management. It is just easier to shoot all predators.
We understand this mindset just as we deplore it. The ability to make policy decisions based on science has been lost because the Ministry of Environment under the so-called 2010 Green Budget has been cut back 21.8 per cent: environmental stewardship cut 17.4 per cent; compliance cut 17.4 per cent environmental stewardship division which is responsible for protection of B.C.’s 2,000 species at risk, fish and wildlife habitat sliced by almost four million.
Elimination of conservation officers and severely constrained travel budgets has compromised the protection of wildlife.
Indiscriminate killing of wolves goes back a long way in our society.
It does nothing but upset natural balances and usually backfires. It is time for us to do better.David WilliamsExecutive DirectorFriends of the Nemaiah ValleyVictoria
