New wildlife law in effect July 9, with no regulations

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

Nunavut’s main land claim organization is urging hunters to keep harvesting the same numbers of animals, the same way they always have, despite new legislation that came into effect this week.

The government of Nunavut is bringing the Nunavut Wildlife Act into effect tomorrow, July 9, in their latest effort to update laws inherited from the Northwest Territories.

But wildlife advisors at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. say the timing will confuse hunters and wildlife officers in charge of making sure everyone’s following the rules.

That’s because the law lacks updated rules on hunting in Nunavut, including when and how much people can hunt. Instead, government wants hunters to keep following old rules, as well.

“It’s confusing,” said Gabriel Nirlungayuk, NTI’s director of wildlife. “Technically, we’ll be using two sets of books. Hopefully the officers won’t be confused which set of books they use. And hopefully it won’t come to charging people if they’re confused.

“We’re cautiously trusting [the government].”

The act passed third reading in December 2003, replacing 1978 legislation inherited from the government of the Northwest Territories.

In newspaper advertisements for the act coming into force, the GN’s department of environment claims the new law will change several aspects of hunting in Nunavut.

Steve Pinksen, director of policy planning and legislation for the GN’s department of environment, said he doesn’t expect any conflicts from running new laws with old regulations.

“It’s very valuable to have our new regulations and have them come into force, the sooner, the better,” Pinksen said. “But it’s not essential.”

The law is expected to implement the wildlife management regime outlined in the Nunavut land claims agreement, such as reinforcing the roles of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, the regional wildlife organizations, and the hunters and trappers organizations.

The law takes notes of Inuit rights to harvest, and contains a set of principles meant to entrench Inuit traditional knowledge in the territory’s legal approach to wildlife management.

Neither the previous wildlife act nor current regulations made provisions for Inuit rights, according to wildlife officials. GN officials say the law also has stiffer penalties for anyone abusing certain wildlife habitat or species at risk.

But the government publicity campaign admits that not much will change in hunters’ everyday lives until new wildlife regulations are finalized later this year.

New hunting rules are to be discussed in government consultation meetings in the territory’s three regional centres in the fall.

According to Nirlungayuk, the GN is only going ahead with tomorrow’s inauguration of the act because of political pressure on the department of the environment.

He said he wasn’t sure which politician insisted on bringing the act into effect, though he noted it was a symbolic coup for the cabinet because tomorrow is Nunavut Day, commemorating the signing of the land claim agreement.

Jim Noble, CEO of the territory’s wildlife management board, said he also doesn’t know why the government wanted to go ahead with the act without new regulations.

But Noble expected the government has a clear idea of what rules will apply. Otherwise, he anticipates problems, as some legal guidelines such as zoning have been altered in the act, but related regulations are still being negotiated by the GN and other groups.

“I’m guessing that’s what they’re doing,” Noble said. “They’re going to go through everything to make sure it doesn’t cause a blow-up in the system.”