Mr. Speaker, the anthrax outbreak this summer in the Mackenzie Bison Range was the largest we have experienced in Northern Canada.
At least one-third of the Mackenzie wood bison herd was lost and included bulls, cows and calves.
The outbreak was discovered during a routine surveillance flight on July 3rd when 128 carcasses were found at Mills Lake. The Anthrax Emergency Response Plan was activated as soon as these carcasses were found. An enhanced surveillance program was implemented and all carcasses were identified and treated by incineration and/or chemical disinfection in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines and the Anthrax Emergency Response Plan.
The active infection phase of this outbreak ended in late August. A minimum of 440 bison were lost to this outbreak.
Response teams worked very hard for seven weeks to dispose of the carcasses and ensure public health and safety.
At the height of the outbreak, about 120 people were working to deal with it. This included Environment and Natural Resources staff, contractors and more than 55 emergency firefighters hired from Fort Providence.
I would like to thank all those involved in this enormous undertaking: staff from the Department, the scientists, crews working in the field, and contractors. I would especially like to thank the
community and leadership of Fort Providence, who not only accommodated these extra people in their community but also supported our efforts to deal with the outbreak.
Mr. Speaker, wood bison are a federally listed species at risk in Canada. The herd now numbers less than 1,000 animals, meaning it is no longer considered to be recovered as defined by the draft national Recovery Strategy for the Wood Bison in Canada. In addition, Mr. Speaker, this disease-free herd is seen as essential for the Canada-wide recovery of the species.
Normally, anthrax affects mostly bulls; however, this outbreak affected many cows and even calves. The high loss of cows during this outbreak will affect calf recruitment in the herd for years to come.
Recognizing the severity of this situation, both the Wekeezhii Renewable Resources Board and the Mackenzie Wood Bison Management Plan Working Group have recommended closing all harvesting for at least one year.
In response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources initiated a number of actions aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of this herd.
In August, all limited entry draw and outfitted tags were rescinded for this year. On October 5th, all harvesting was closed in wildlife unit R/WB/02, the area between Frank Channel and Yellowknife, which had been open to general hunting licence holders.
Over the fall ENR also began consultations with the Aboriginal governments and groups on reducing or eliminating all wood bison tags for the 2012-13 season.
Based on these consultations and in an effort to give this valuable resource every opportunity to recover from this significant setback, I am announcing today that I will be taking steps to close all harvesting of the Mackenzie wood bison herd for the current hunting season. This change will come into effect November 1, 2012.
Mr. Speaker, our actions in this area will not stop at closing zones and eliminating the harvest. Over the coming winter, ENR will continue to monitor this herd. In the spring of 2013, the department will also undertake a population survey of the herd. Information collected from these initiatives will be used to discuss potential future management actions with the WRRB, Tlicho Government, the Mackenzie Bison Working Group and other partners.
Mr. Speaker, we understand this places hardship on harvesters but the conservation of one of the few disease-free wood bison herds in Canada is a priority. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
