B.C. more than doubles fines for illegal hunting, other wildlife offences
Starting this week, people caught illegally hunting or fishing will face much stiffer penalties under B.C.'s Wildlife Act.
The increased fines coming into effect Tuesday represent the first "significant increase" enacted in more than 20 years, the Ministry of Forests said in a news release.
Violation tickets will range from $345 to $1,495 – more than double the current range of $115 to $575.
"Fines issued under the Wildlife Act help discourage unlawful activities that harm fish and wildlife. The new fine amounts better reflect the serious nature of these offences and recognize the importance of wildlife to everyone living in British Columbia," the ministry said.
The highest penalties apply to offences such as big game hunting during a closed season, unlawful possession of big game, and unlawful possession of a threatened or endangered species.
Other offences with increased fines include unlawful trapping, hunting without a licence, damaging a wildlife habitat, and illegal trafficking of wildlife, the government said.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation applauded the change, but urged the province to use the revenue from the increased fines to fund habitat management and similar endeavours.
"The new penalties are more in line with the harm caused by poachers," executive director Jesse Zeman said in a statement. "The revenue generated by these penalties should now be used to reverse the long decline in funding for wildlife management."
According to the BCWF, the "proportion of the provincial budget" used to fund renewable resource management has declined by 75 per cent since 1993.
"Funding for fish and wildlife management in British Columbia is estimated at about $7 per capita," the conservation organization said in a news release. "Contrast that with expenditures in nearby jurisdictions such as Washington ($29), Montana ($91) and Alaska ($235)."
According to the B.C. government, more than 1,000 tickets for Wildlife Act offences were issued last year, with combined fines totalling more than $200,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. election results: NDP gains ground in latest release of mail-in ballot data
Elections BC released its first partial results of the final count in B.C.'s 2024 provincial election Saturday afternoon, and the data shows NDP candidates gaining in some tight races.
Ontario man tells police he harmed two family members, three found dead
Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.
Trump refers to CNN's Anderson Cooper by a woman's first name
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper with a woman's first name in recent days as the Republican presidential nominee focuses his closing message on a hypermasculine appeal to men.
Lawsuit alleges Ontario man died after given 10 times prescribed dose in hospital
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
15-year-old found dead in eastern Ontario, teen facing second-degree murder charge: OPP
Ontario Provincial Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 15-year-old was found dead at a home in Perth, Ont. Friday afternoon.
Lizzo's Halloween costume draws inspiration from 'South Park' episode that referenced her and the weight-loss drug Ozempic
Lizzo has taken a rather silly reference to her on a recent 'South Park' episode and elevated it to a hilarious Halloween costume.
What we know about the Canadians busted in an international drug ring led by a former Olympic athlete
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn’t go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
Ottawa journalist says claims that he is a Russian agent are 'fabricated'
A veteran Ottawa journalist is firing back against what he says are "entirely false" claims by a former Conservative cabinet minister that he acted as a Russian agent.
Israel's first open attack on Iran targets missile sites and apparently spares oil and nuclear ones
Israel attacked military targets in Iran with pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. It was the first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran.