Delta Waterfowl Press Release

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Delta Waterfowl Press Release

For immediate release...
Dec. 12, 2007

No Changes to Canadian Duck Stamp Program;
Delta Waterfowl Pleased with Outcome

WINNIPEG– Canada's Environment Minister John Baird has confirmed to Delta Waterfowl that Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC), an independent, nonprofit organization, will continue to manage the Canadian duck stamp program for another three years.

Since its inception in 1984, Wildlife Habitat Canada has invested $52 million in habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement, particularly in wetlands and wetland-associated species. About $32 million was generated by duck stamp sales.

"This is welcome news for duck hunters and the future of waterfowl conservation in Canada," said Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson. Delta officially opposed proposals by Environment Canada that would have effectively ended the duck stamp program and radically altered waterfowl management in Canada. Delta Waterfowl wrote a letter to Minister John Baird requesting him to leave the duck stamp program intact.

"Waterfowl hunters, stamp collectors, and outdoors enthusiasts all supported the program," said David Brackett, President of WHC. "Environment Canada received over 150 submissions in response to its public consultation, with over 97 percent strongly in favour of continuing the existing stamp program and arrangement between EC and WHC."

"This issue illustrates what hunter- conservationists can do when they make their voices heard and get out front on an important issue," said Bob Bailey, Delta's vice president of policy for Canada. "It was the combined efforts of 27 provincial wildlife federations and outdoor groups that provided the national push to make sure the duck stamp remained intact."

"We met recently with Minister Baird and impressed upon him the importance of the Canadian duck stamp program to wetland conservation," said Greg Farrant, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters' Manager of Government Relations and Communications. "We are pleased to see the Minister recognize the role hunters play in supporting this vital conservation program."

Bailey and Farrant agree that keeping WHC and the duck stamp program intact is a great first step, but there is more work to do. In a September 23 letter to Minister Baird, 27 national, provincial, territorial and regional outdoor organizations proposed a "new and improved" WHC that would include more hunters on the WHC board, a wetland priority for habitat work, promotion of the contributions hunters make to habitat conservation under the duck stamp, and a guarantee of public access to areas secured or improved with WHC funds.

"We are committed to ensuring that these new proposals for WHC are implemented," said Olson. "We hope this is a signal by Environment Canada that it is going to put its management focus back on waterfowl and waterfowl habitat."

This year, 40 percent of WHC grants went to North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) partners, including the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, Delta Waterfowl's partner on Adopt a Pothole, the largest wetland easement program in Canada.

For more information, contact Delta President Rob Olson at 204-956-7766.

Delta Waterfowl (www.deltawaterfowl.org) is dedicated to the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

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