Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because of waste grain in the South, snow geese are overpopulating Banks Island and destroying wildlife habitat. Egg harvest can contribute to their control while addressing nutritional deficiencies and cost of living for NWT residents facing food insecurity.
More than two decades ago, Canada and the U.S. amended the Migratory Bird Convention to allow for the spring harvest of migratory birds to aid in management such as addressing the overpopulation of snow geese. But despite American states and some eastern Canadian provinces instituting spring sport hunts to complement traditional spring hunts, an NWT proposal at the time to institute spring bird and egg harvests was ignored. Since then the problem has become dramatically worse and long-term habitat loss of all wildlife is now measured by satellite as snow geese populations soar ever higher.
Although I can’t go into the detail on my authority on this, snow geese eggs are delicious and nutritious, and millions are laid on Banks Island each year. Meanwhile, many northern families go hungry and schools and medical facilities seek traditional foods to complement the diets of students, patients and elders, and the overpopulation of snow geese still needs to be controlled. There is such a practical, common sense opportunity for a win, win, win here that I fear government will let yet more decades go by without the simple local action required for continental benefit.
Now, two decades since the first opportunity for action, the federal government is finally permitting a spring hunt of snow geese by all residents in the NWT. But it’s too little too late. If states and provinces, electronic decoys, electronic calls and 50 per day bag limits for years haven’t done it, a dozen more Northerners popping away won’t even be noticeable.
It’s time to get serious. Hire traditional harvesters in Sachs Harbour to harvest goose eggs and distribute them throughout NWT communities wherever there is a high cost of living and a demonstrated need for nutritious food.
A million-plus snow geese on Banks Island means about 400,000 nests each spring or about 1.5 million eggs. A modest start of 5 percent would equal 75,000 or 6,500 dozen goose eggs. A modest start of 5 percent.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
For 15 communities with demonstrated need, about 500 dozen goose eggs would go to each community, the equivalent of over 1,000 dozen chicken eggs. A significant contribution to the health and well-being of residents while helping to solve a North American wildlife population issue and provide some modest employment in Sachs Harbour.
A smaller harvest the first year could prove up the methods of harvest and distribution, followed by larger harvests in subsequent years as assessed and approved by federal and territorial government biologists. International funding would undoubtedly be available. Here we have a straightforward wildlife population issue with a straightforward win, win, win northern solution.
I will have questions. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
