For Immediate Release

Outdoor Caucus to provide a welcome voice for outdoor enthusiasts
More MPs signing on each day

Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., April 10, 2006 - While growing up on his family’s farm just outside of Yorkton, Saskatchewan MP Garry Breitkreuz learned firsthand about the value of conservation.

“With the help of Ducks Unlimited Canada around 30 years ago, my father set aside 30 acres of what we still call ‘big slough’ on our land,” explained Breitkreuz, a Conservative MP from the Yorkton-Melville riding. “To this day, that parcel of land remains in its natural state, providing valuable habitat to wildlife, especially to the ducks and geese that use it each year.”

With such a tangible example of conservation on his own property, it really is no surprise that building on the proud conservation legacy of Canada’s hunters, anglers and outdoors enthusiasts is the primary force behind Breitkreuz’s invitation to fellow MPs to form a non-partisan Outdoors Caucus within the Parliament of Canada.

“We all have constituents who hunt or fish,” said Breitkreuz. “There are approximately five million Canadians who participate in these outdoor activities and contribute to a conservation legacy of which we can be very proud. It is vital that the interests of this vast group of Canadians be recognized and promoted in an effective manner.”

According to Breitkreuz, the Outdoors Caucus will create a forum where information based on sound science can be shared so that members can have an informed and productive dialogue on a wide range of issues related to outdoor activities and conservation. Reaction to Breitkreuz’s invitation has been swift and continues to build. To date, 48 members from a cross section of Canadian ridings and all major political parties have signed up. With a science-based conservation sitting at the forefront of the Caucus’ agenda, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is understandably pleased with Breitkreuz’s initiative.

“This non-partisan caucus should be an excellent opportunity for national decision makers to promote and enhance the ongoing conservation efforts of anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts all across Canada,” said Barry Turner, DUC’s director of government relations.

Turner’s nod to the conservation ethic of hunters is supported by a study by Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC) in 2000 that called hunters “a proven powerhouse” within the diverse conservation community, even though they represent only five per cent of the total population. The study reveals hunters have directly contributed more than $335 million – and 14 million hours of volunteer time – to conserve, restore or protect more than a million hectares of wildlife habitat in Canada since 1985.

“Hunting and fishing are important parts of our history, our culture and our economy,” Breitkreuz said. “Not enough has been done to remind Canadians of these facts or to encourage young people to get involved in these heritage activities.”

Besides hunting and angling initiatives, Breitkreuz noted that potential Caucus discussions could include the establishment of incentives to farmers for providing ecological goods and services, the promotion of economic and societal benefits from natural lands to Canadians, and promoting Canada’s vast outdoor opportunities to urban audiences.

-30-

For more information contact:
Leigh Patterson, DUC corporate media relations specialist, (204) 467-3306
Dennis Young, Parliamentary Assistant to Garry Breitkreuz, (613) 565-5294