Post by Woody Williams on Apr 1, 2006 5:58:28 GMT -5
www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publications/2006/749.pdf
Call of the wild
A Tory MP wants a non-partisan 'outdoors caucas'
Macleans
Apr 3, 2006, p. 17
BY COLIN CAMPBELL
For Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz, the former Liberal government's
controversial gun registry is becoming a fading memory. "It's going to
be history," he says. "We don't even have to think about it."
Nowadays, the long-time gun registry critic from Yorkton, Sask., is
busying himself with a new initiative that he says, might help put a
more positive spin on hunting in Canada -- a new, non-partisan "outdoors
caucus."
Two weeks ago, Breitkreuz circulated a letter to MPs and senators
inviting them to join a caucus of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. Its
goal, he explains in the group's mission statement, "is to entrench in
law fishing, hunting, trapping, and shooting sports as acceptable,
traditional, environmentally sustainable outdoor heritage activities."
The caucus is, in many regards, the antithesis of the gun registry --
something to openly promote the hunting and outdoors industry, rather
than constrain it, says Breitkreuz, a lifelong deer hunter and
well-known figure within the hunting and fishing industry.
The idea of an outdoors caucus is not new, though generally a caucus is
built on regional or party lines. The previous Liberal government had a
fledgling outdoors caucus, but it was partisan and largely ineffective.
This outdoors caucus, which Breitkreuz hopes will cross party lines, is
being initiated by the Tories' best- known anti-gun registry man, and is
being widely embraced by hunting groups, most of which have been
lobbying for this kind of coalition for several years. "It's loosely
based on the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus in Washington, the largest
caucus on Capitol Hill," says Phil Morlock, who represents the Canadian
Sportfishing Industry Association and is the director of environmental
affairs at Shimano Canada. Morlock envisions the caucus playing a big
role in environmental preservation laws, as well as helping get
information about the hunting and fishing industry into lawmakers'
hands. Hunting groups also hope it will lend a voice to hunters in a
country that lacks a strong lobby like the National Rifle Association in
the U.S.
-----
HUNTERS HOPE IT WILL PROVIDE A
STRONG LOBBY, LIKE THE NATIONAL
RIFLE ASSOCIATION DOES IN THE U.S.
-----
"We've been too defensive," Breitkreuz says, about Canada's approach to
hunting and fishing -- things that are "vital components of our culture
and heritage. We've got to start promoting one of the real strengths of
our country." So far, he has about 10 names ready to join, including at
least one NDP member and a few cabinet ministers, he says.
"There are all sorts of issues that the outdoors caucus would be dealing
with," says Greg Farrant, the manager of government relations for the
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. "Everything from chronic
wasting disease to invasive species. They are all outdoor issues." The
hunting and fishing industry, which is worth about $10 billion annually
in Canada, is "something Parliament needs to pay attention to and
through the outdoors caucus that will be come possible," Farrant adds.
Despite Tory promises to scrap the troubled gun registry, issues
surrounding firearms legislation will also likely remain one of the top
issues on the caucus's agenda. Others might include species at risk
legislation, and even questions about the seal hunt. "I want to make
sure that we have a positive aspect to legislation that we pass in
Parliament," says Breitkreuz. "This is going to be one way to do that."
Call of the wild
A Tory MP wants a non-partisan 'outdoors caucas'
Macleans
Apr 3, 2006, p. 17
BY COLIN CAMPBELL
For Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz, the former Liberal government's
controversial gun registry is becoming a fading memory. "It's going to
be history," he says. "We don't even have to think about it."
Nowadays, the long-time gun registry critic from Yorkton, Sask., is
busying himself with a new initiative that he says, might help put a
more positive spin on hunting in Canada -- a new, non-partisan "outdoors
caucus."
Two weeks ago, Breitkreuz circulated a letter to MPs and senators
inviting them to join a caucus of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. Its
goal, he explains in the group's mission statement, "is to entrench in
law fishing, hunting, trapping, and shooting sports as acceptable,
traditional, environmentally sustainable outdoor heritage activities."
The caucus is, in many regards, the antithesis of the gun registry --
something to openly promote the hunting and outdoors industry, rather
than constrain it, says Breitkreuz, a lifelong deer hunter and
well-known figure within the hunting and fishing industry.
The idea of an outdoors caucus is not new, though generally a caucus is
built on regional or party lines. The previous Liberal government had a
fledgling outdoors caucus, but it was partisan and largely ineffective.
This outdoors caucus, which Breitkreuz hopes will cross party lines, is
being initiated by the Tories' best- known anti-gun registry man, and is
being widely embraced by hunting groups, most of which have been
lobbying for this kind of coalition for several years. "It's loosely
based on the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus in Washington, the largest
caucus on Capitol Hill," says Phil Morlock, who represents the Canadian
Sportfishing Industry Association and is the director of environmental
affairs at Shimano Canada. Morlock envisions the caucus playing a big
role in environmental preservation laws, as well as helping get
information about the hunting and fishing industry into lawmakers'
hands. Hunting groups also hope it will lend a voice to hunters in a
country that lacks a strong lobby like the National Rifle Association in
the U.S.
-----
HUNTERS HOPE IT WILL PROVIDE A
STRONG LOBBY, LIKE THE NATIONAL
RIFLE ASSOCIATION DOES IN THE U.S.
-----
"We've been too defensive," Breitkreuz says, about Canada's approach to
hunting and fishing -- things that are "vital components of our culture
and heritage. We've got to start promoting one of the real strengths of
our country." So far, he has about 10 names ready to join, including at
least one NDP member and a few cabinet ministers, he says.
"There are all sorts of issues that the outdoors caucus would be dealing
with," says Greg Farrant, the manager of government relations for the
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. "Everything from chronic
wasting disease to invasive species. They are all outdoor issues." The
hunting and fishing industry, which is worth about $10 billion annually
in Canada, is "something Parliament needs to pay attention to and
through the outdoors caucus that will be come possible," Farrant adds.
Despite Tory promises to scrap the troubled gun registry, issues
surrounding firearms legislation will also likely remain one of the top
issues on the caucus's agenda. Others might include species at risk
legislation, and even questions about the seal hunt. "I want to make
sure that we have a positive aspect to legislation that we pass in
Parliament," says Breitkreuz. "This is going to be one way to do that."
