Hunting in Island View Beach Regional Park
The existing park bylaw at page 16 https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/parks-pdf/management-plan-1989-.pdf?sfvrsn=0
contains a ban on hunting:
"Hunting shall be prohibited in the park, including the use of predatory birds."
No equivalent section existed in the 2013 draft interim plan. The CRD planning staff were asked why and they responded:
Hunting in regional parks is regulated by the Provincial Government under the Wildlife Act and as highlighted in the BC Hunting and Trapping Synopsis (2012-2014) at page 11 as follows: (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/1214/docs/hunting_trapping_front.pdf)
Regional District Parks
Hunting and the discharge of firearms is prohibited within 100 m of all Regional District Parks in Regions 1 [Vancouver Island] and 2 [Lower Mainland]. The discharge of firearms and bows is prohibited in most regional district parks. Regional district bylaws are NOT included in this synopsis.
Additionally, CRD Regional Parks Bylaw No. 3682, addresses the killing of wildlife in Section 7(f) (pg. 10) and Section 9 (1) (pg. 13) as follows: (https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/crd-document-library/bylaws/parksandrecreation/3682---(consolidated)-capital-regional-district-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-1-2010B.pdf?sfvrsn=0)
7. PRESERVATION OF NATURAL FEATURES, WILDLIFE, AND PARK FEATURES
(1) Unless they have the CRD’s written authorization or a valid park use permit allowing the activity, persons must not do any of the following in a regional park:
(f) molest, disturb, frighten, injure, kill, catch, or trap any wildlife, except for fishing and crab-catching done in accordance with all enactments;
9. FIREARMS AND HUNTING
(1) A person must not possess or discharge any firearm, fireworks, slingshot, bow, or crossbow in a regional park without a valid park use permit allowing that activity and then, only in accordance with this Bylaw, the park use permit and any other applicable bylaw.
Since hunting is dealt with in these documents, we don’t include it in individual park management plans.
A message went back to the CRD saying: "all the references you gave .... allow hunting under certain conditions. The current bylaw expressly prohibits hunting in the park which is as it should be - why not put in a prohibition on hunting in the park plan? It is one sentence."
To which the CRD responded: "There is no recreational hunting in regional parks according to provincial regulations and our bylaws. It is unnecessary to also include it in the park management plan. "
These are just word games - we spoke of "hunting" as described in the existing park bylaw, and the CRD, when pushed, came back with saying there is a ban on "recreational hunting". Many deer and other animals and birds have been shot in names other than recreational hunting.
Why is the CRD playing word games here? Are they contemplating allowing hunting under another name? If they are this should be disclosed to the public.
There should be no hunting of any kind at Island View Beach Regional park, and this should be clearly stated in any park management Plan.
Reports from the area say that hunting is occurring in the park now.
contains a ban on hunting:
"Hunting shall be prohibited in the park, including the use of predatory birds."
No equivalent section existed in the 2013 draft interim plan. The CRD planning staff were asked why and they responded:
Hunting in regional parks is regulated by the Provincial Government under the Wildlife Act and as highlighted in the BC Hunting and Trapping Synopsis (2012-2014) at page 11 as follows: (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/1214/docs/hunting_trapping_front.pdf)
Regional District Parks
Hunting and the discharge of firearms is prohibited within 100 m of all Regional District Parks in Regions 1 [Vancouver Island] and 2 [Lower Mainland]. The discharge of firearms and bows is prohibited in most regional district parks. Regional district bylaws are NOT included in this synopsis.
Additionally, CRD Regional Parks Bylaw No. 3682, addresses the killing of wildlife in Section 7(f) (pg. 10) and Section 9 (1) (pg. 13) as follows: (https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/crd-document-library/bylaws/parksandrecreation/3682---(consolidated)-capital-regional-district-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-1-2010B.pdf?sfvrsn=0)
7. PRESERVATION OF NATURAL FEATURES, WILDLIFE, AND PARK FEATURES
(1) Unless they have the CRD’s written authorization or a valid park use permit allowing the activity, persons must not do any of the following in a regional park:
(f) molest, disturb, frighten, injure, kill, catch, or trap any wildlife, except for fishing and crab-catching done in accordance with all enactments;
9. FIREARMS AND HUNTING
(1) A person must not possess or discharge any firearm, fireworks, slingshot, bow, or crossbow in a regional park without a valid park use permit allowing that activity and then, only in accordance with this Bylaw, the park use permit and any other applicable bylaw.
Since hunting is dealt with in these documents, we don’t include it in individual park management plans.
A message went back to the CRD saying: "all the references you gave .... allow hunting under certain conditions. The current bylaw expressly prohibits hunting in the park which is as it should be - why not put in a prohibition on hunting in the park plan? It is one sentence."
To which the CRD responded: "There is no recreational hunting in regional parks according to provincial regulations and our bylaws. It is unnecessary to also include it in the park management plan. "
These are just word games - we spoke of "hunting" as described in the existing park bylaw, and the CRD, when pushed, came back with saying there is a ban on "recreational hunting". Many deer and other animals and birds have been shot in names other than recreational hunting.
Why is the CRD playing word games here? Are they contemplating allowing hunting under another name? If they are this should be disclosed to the public.
There should be no hunting of any kind at Island View Beach Regional park, and this should be clearly stated in any park management Plan.
Reports from the area say that hunting is occurring in the park now.