Two policy changes by the ministry of the Environment were announced by minister Dustin Duncan, in his address to the provincial convention of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation on Thursday.
The Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA was the opening keynote speaker to the convention, held in Weyburn at the Cugnet Centre with around 200 delegates in attendance from across the province.
He said the ministry released its Aquatic Invasive Species strategy, and also announced a freeze on fee hikes for remote recreation lease fees.
The government will also be starting a review of the Wildlife Act this year, with the goal to have the updated act in place by 2022, said Duncan, adding that the Sask. Wildlife Federation will be an integral part of that review process.
The aquatic invasive species is a major concern in Saskatchewan and across Western Canada, said Duncan, and the ministry has focused on a number of initiatives including public education about the threats posed by the species.
One piece of good news was that no invasive mussels were detected in Saskatchewan’s waters in 2019.
Duncan announced that a new Aquatic Invasive Species framework has been finalized and released to help prevent and respond to threats posed by these species, with a focus on collaboration and coordination with provincial and federal government agencies.
He thanked the SWF for their support of the provincial fisheries program, which includes operation of the fish culture station at Fort Qu’Appelle, and the work done under the fisheries enhancement agreement, such as enabling the stocking of trout and walleye throughout the province for anglers to enjoy, and aeration of lakes as a part of habitat restoration efforts.
In regard to remote recreation leases, he said the government has heard the concerns of many people, including members of the SWF, about the proposed hike in fees from the current $275 up to $1,500 over the next four years. As a result, the province will freeze the increase to $888 until 2025, and another review will be conducted at that time.
There are 937 remote recreational cabins and 15 remote residential sites on Crown resource land, mostly located in the north. The lease fees had been reviewed because they had not changed since 2004.
One of the issues in managing wildlife species has been a program to prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer, elk and moose in Saskatchewan, and Duncan said Environment is committed to reducing the risk of this disease spreading as they work with the minister of agriculture to implement concrete management steps.
“Your representative on the CWD risk work group has played a key role in understanding the impact of the disease and the need for action,” he said.
Duncan also noted the part the wildlife federation plays in managing 60,000 hectares of conservation wetlands around the province, along with Nature Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited organizations.
“As the province’s wildlife is a resource belonging to all Saskatchewan residents, these lands are open to everyone for hunting, hiking, bird-watching and for simply enjoying nature,” said Duncan. “Some of these lands are only 45 minutes from Weyburn.”
The province is also appreciative of the input that SWF has brought regarding preserving game species as a part of the province’s heritage, so these resources can be enjoyed now and into the future, he added.
The game management strategy is a part of the provincial government’s 10-year strategy for the province’s future.
“This approach provides a consistent, science-based approach to habitat conservation over the next decade, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our wildlife populations,” said the minister, giving as an example the efforts to conserve the woodland caribou population in Northern Saskatchewan.
