QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Parks Canada
November 28, 2024
Leader, Senator Plett and I have asked you questions this year about the invasive deer cull on Sidney Island in B.C.’s Gulf Islands. Your government paid foreign marksmen to shoot deer with semi-automatic rifles while flying around in a helicopter at a cost of $10,000 per deer.
This fall, the next phase of the cull involved Parks Canada erecting fencing made of second-hand fishing nets to herd the deer in advance of the hunt. Some deer got caught in these nets and thrashed themselves to death. As a result, Parks Canada has shut down the cull.
How much did these used fishing nets cost taxpayers, leader? What has been the total cost of the second phase of the cull so far?
Senator Martin, first of all, I’m distressed to hear these animals suffered as a result of being entangled. Frankly, it concerns me.
I don’t know the answer to your question of how much money was spent on these nets. I can only assume that Parks Canada assumed this was a safe way to contain the herd. It is tragic that it didn’t work out that way. But I don’t know the exact amount that was spent, nor do I know what the future plans are, assuming — which I do, of course, assume — as you report, that the cull has been suspended, postponed or cancelled.
I understand the NDP-Liberals refuse to give those figures to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which is quite troubling.
Leader, the first phase of this cull cost $834,000. I’ve asked this twice before, but I haven’t received an answer. Why weren’t local B.C. hunters involved from the start? They would have done this work at no cost to taxpayers perhaps. Isn’t that common sense?
Yes, I recall you asking the questions, senator. As you know, those were transmitted immediately to the government. I have not been advised of an answer, and I regret you haven’t received one as yet, but I will follow up, as I always do.
