Brad Cathers

MLA for Lake Laberge
Yukon Party Leadership Candidate

FOR RELEASE
February 6, 2020

Improving Wildlife Management and Respecting the Rights of Everyone

WHITEHORSE – Brad Cathers, MLA for Lake Laberge, announced today that improving wildlife management and respecting the rights of everyone will be a high priority if he becomes Premier of the Yukon.

“Yukoners value our wilderness, and hunting and fishing are an important part of the lifestyle of many people across this territory. People depend on responsible harvesting for feeding their families, as well as passing knowledge on to their children,” noted Cathers. “The current government has demonstrated a lack of respect for Yukoners through actions including their proposed changes to regulations under the Wildlife Act.”

“The Yukon Liberal government is failing to honour the spirit and intent of the Umbrella Final Agreement by taking an unbalanced approach to wildlife management, and breaking its own commitments to evidence-based decision making,” added Cathers. “If I am elected as Premier of the Yukon, we will seek fish and wildlife management solutions that respect the rights and interests of everyone, including First Nations citizens and non-indigenous people. People have a right to expect that their government will respect the rule of law and make fairness for everyone a priority.”

Brad’s vision for improving wildlife management and respecting the rights of everyone includes recognizing the roles of the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board and Renewable Resource Councils pursuant to the Umbrella Final Agreement, and working with them as well as with First Nations governments, resident hunters and anglers, outfitters, farmers, and other business owners to seek solutions that are fair and balanced.

His vision for improving wildlife management and respecting the rights of all Yukoners if elected as Leader of a Yukon Party government includes these action items:

• Honouring the government’s duty to respect the rights of every person, including First Nations citizens, licenced hunters, anglers, and business owners.

• Respecting that hunting and fishing are an important part of the lifestyle of many Yukoners.

• Seeking fish and wildlife management solutions that are fair to everyone, while reflecting the principles of sustainability, conservation and responsible harvest management.

• Increasing investment in wildlife population research – including automatically doing follow-up surveys if a concerningly low number of animals are counted on a single aerial survey to ensure that animals weren’t missed due to an error.

• Recognizing that making fish and wildlife management decisions based on outdated data, old surveys, projections, or inadequate information leads to wrong decisions – and that government needs to take appropriate steps to ensure conservation decisions are based on sound scientific information.

• Standing up for the rights of law-abiding firearms owners. 

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Contact:

Jeninne Cathers
(867) 667-6312