Untitled Document

Charlesbourg, March 24, 2006 – The Fédération québécoise de la faune (FQF) is calling on all its members who hunt and fish and all other outdoor lovers in Quebec to encourage their federal MPs to become involved in the formation of the “Promotion of Outdoor Activities Caucus.” Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz created this committee, composed essentially of federal MPs and senators who share a common interest in the outdoors, and hunting, fishing and trapping in particular, in recognition of the fact that hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting activities are essential elements of Canada’s culture and heritage.

In a recent missive, Mr. Breitkreuz explained that millions of Canadians practice these traditional harvesting activities and that is why it is essential that MPs and senators from all parties recognize the interests of these groups, which represent a very large proportion of Canadians. He mentions that those of us in these groups have produced an important conservation legacy of which Canadians can be proud and from which they can learn. He thus proposes the creation of a federal parliamentary caucus, like the one created in the United States.

The mission of the caucus is to entrench in law fishing, hunting, trapping and shooting sports as acceptable, traditional, environmentally-sustainable outdoor heritage activities with a safety credo and a conservation ethic as our highest priorities, and:

a)	To ensure that Canadians continue to have reasonable access to federally managed public lands and waters to enjoy traditional outdoor heritage activities;
b)	To increase awareness of the economic importance of outdoor heritage activities to Canada's economy, and to support the growth of outdoor activities, heritage businesses and jobs;
c)	To preserve and promote the traditional Canadian outdoor heritage activities and the environmental stewardship ethic upon which they are based; and
d)	To support multiple sustainable uses and management of public lands, waters, fish, wildlife and habitat, based on sound science and professional natural resource tenets, for the benefit of all Canadians.

The name, mission statement and other administrative and organizational details will be finalized at the first meeting when Parliament resumes in April.

To date, the caucus has ten (10) Conservatives (2 in Saskatchewan, 2 in Alberta, 5 in Ontario and 1 in Quebec) two (2) Liberals (1 in New Brunswick and 1 in Ontario) and one (1) NPDer (Nova Scotia).

It is important to start raising awareness among our Quebec MPs today and encourage them to fill out the application form, which is available on the FQF site, at www.fqf.qc.ca