BC's government has banned all hunting of grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest and across the province effective immediately. Environment Minister George Heyman made the announcement as the province gets ready to bring in new species at risk legislation in the new year.
The ban will not apply to First Nations who hunt grizzly bears for food, social, ceremonial reasons, or for treaty rights.
The ban will mean more rescources for conservation services are needed, and Heyman says more information on how the government will support that will be contained in the spring budget.
Environmental groups like the Wilderness Committee are cheering the ban, calling it tremendous news.
National Campaign Director Joe Foy says he's grateful that the government has finally stepped up to do what the people have demanded -- bringing an end to what he calls "the barbaric practise."
Foy says the next step is a combination of habitat protection and, in emergency cases, grizzly bear relocation to bring the numbers back up.
First Nations groups are also applauding the move. Coastal First Nations and the Central Coast Bear Working Group congratulated the NDP government for taking "this important step toward reconciliation".
The Central Coast Bear Working Group has spent almost a decade working to stop the grizzly hunt in the Great Bear Rainforest enacting a tribal ban on trophy hunting in 2012.
They note public opinion was against the hunt, with recent polling showing at least 74% of British Columbians wanted a ban.
But hunting advocates, like the Guide Outfitters Association of BC are critical of the decision. Scott Ellis says basing wildlife management policies on polls and emotion is shortsighted.