scooter
03-25-2009, 03:09 PM
Moncton Times & Transcript
Published Tuesday March 24th, 2009
Fee hikes reflect rising costs of hunting, fishing By Everett Mosher, Outdoor life
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/sports/article/612939
New Brunswick's Department of Natural Resources is increasing the cost of hunting, fishing and trapping licences. A complete listing of these increases can be found online at www.gnb.ca/0078/FC-e.pdf (http://www.gnb.ca/0078/FC-e.pdf)
The fees listed in this document are only the base amount and do not include other costs. To determine what the total cost of the licences will be once the base increases are calculated in, we dig out the calculator and, if no miscalculations have been made, by using the new base amounts listed in this document, we arrive at the following figures:
- The cost of a Class III resident deer and game bird licence will increase from $30.51 to $38.42, while the Class 9 resident angling licence (except salmon), will go from $22.60 to $25.99. Those residents who fish for salmon will pay $40.60 instead of the current fee of $33.90.
- A resident bear licence will increase from $37.29 to $47.46. According to the supplied figures, a resident moose licence will go from the current
$62.15 to $81.36. The trapper's licence will increase from the current
$42.94 to $54.24.
How did we arrive at these new figures, given that the above document lists only base amounts?
As but one example of our calculations, the current Class 9 resident angler licence is listed in this document as having a base amount of $10. To arrive at the $22.60 fee we currently pay, we add the $5 conservation fee charged on all hunting, fishing and trapping licences and the $5 stocking fee charged on all fishing licences, for a total of $20. This is then taxed at our current tax rate of 13 per cent which gives us the $22.60 total we are currently charged.
Why the increase? The short answer is that the provincial government needs the money. To quote from the information release obtained off the above
website: "The cost of managing hunting, trapping and angling programs exceeds the revenue generated from licence sales. The proposed fee increases are intended to help the Department cover the cost of some of these programs and the administrative costs of printing and issuing licences under the present licensing system."
Note that these increases are currently proposed increases, but are to be implemented, some on June 1 of this year and others on Jan. 1, 2010.
It is likely residents will not be happy with these increases. Apparently, the general public and relevant organizations such as the New Brunswick Wildlife Federation were not consulted or made aware of these increases prior to the news release. One can understand an increase of five or even 10 per cent, but in many cases the increases are 20 per cent or more.
The first instinct by many is to complain bitterly, and to take the DNR and its people to task over these increases. Yet, it's clear that the demand for these increases came down from on high; that is to say, from the Graham government, which is finding itself in a very difficult financial position.
Hence, a wide variety of fees and licences are being increased, the civil service is being cut, other cost-cutting measures are scheduled and in general, residents are being required to pay more for less. For this, the Graham government is blaming hard times world-wide.
Perhaps it's time to step back and take a look at the overall picture. And here we may be the devil's advocate, as we note that even with the increases, hunting, fishing and trapping licences are relatively inexpensive compared to the costs of other recreational activities such as curling or golfing. Those who curl or golf often pay yearly club membership fees that can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. The snowmobiler must pay a trail fee, and have proper insurance, all costing a significant amount.
We recall talking to one hunter many years ago who was complaining about paying the then-new $5 conservation fee, although at the time he was standing beside his four-wheel-drive truck, which must have cost at least $30,000, and was holding a rifle and scope combination costing over $1,000.
On the other side of the coin, for most of the last 100 years, hunting, fishing and trapping have often been the sole recreational activities of the common man, those who were at the low end of the income scale and could not afford to join a curling or golf club. It's those folks who will be hardest hit by these increases, with sacrifices required if they are to continue.
As for the vast majority who have a reasonable income, keep in mind that gas and other costs inherent in hunting and fishing outrank by a significant amount the new cost of these licences. Will the number of people who hunt and fish decline as a result of these increases? Only time will tell.
Conservative member of Parliament Gary Breitkreuz's private member's Bill C-301, which would do away with the long-gun registry, combine the POL and PAL and simplify ATTs, is due to be debated in Parliament in the next few days. It's hoped that all parties will allow a free vote of their members, but that is uncertain even though several members of the opposition parties have indicated that they would vote for this bill. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has clearly indicated that he supports this bill, and has pointed out that the long-gun registry only penalizes the law-abiding farmer and duck hunter while doing nothing to curtail the criminal use of firearms.
As for the concern that without the long-gun registry, the police will find it impossible to know if a residence has firearms, that's simply not valid, as firearms owners will still be required to have a firearms licence and list their place of residence. Yet, that only applies to law-abiding firearms owners, as criminals do not obtain firearms licences, or bother to register their firearms.
Last but not least, don't forget the Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum scheduled for this weekend.
Everett Mosher is a Sackville writer and outdoors enthusiast. His column appears Tuesdays.
Published Tuesday March 24th, 2009
Fee hikes reflect rising costs of hunting, fishing By Everett Mosher, Outdoor life
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/sports/article/612939
New Brunswick's Department of Natural Resources is increasing the cost of hunting, fishing and trapping licences. A complete listing of these increases can be found online at www.gnb.ca/0078/FC-e.pdf (http://www.gnb.ca/0078/FC-e.pdf)
The fees listed in this document are only the base amount and do not include other costs. To determine what the total cost of the licences will be once the base increases are calculated in, we dig out the calculator and, if no miscalculations have been made, by using the new base amounts listed in this document, we arrive at the following figures:
- The cost of a Class III resident deer and game bird licence will increase from $30.51 to $38.42, while the Class 9 resident angling licence (except salmon), will go from $22.60 to $25.99. Those residents who fish for salmon will pay $40.60 instead of the current fee of $33.90.
- A resident bear licence will increase from $37.29 to $47.46. According to the supplied figures, a resident moose licence will go from the current
$62.15 to $81.36. The trapper's licence will increase from the current
$42.94 to $54.24.
How did we arrive at these new figures, given that the above document lists only base amounts?
As but one example of our calculations, the current Class 9 resident angler licence is listed in this document as having a base amount of $10. To arrive at the $22.60 fee we currently pay, we add the $5 conservation fee charged on all hunting, fishing and trapping licences and the $5 stocking fee charged on all fishing licences, for a total of $20. This is then taxed at our current tax rate of 13 per cent which gives us the $22.60 total we are currently charged.
Why the increase? The short answer is that the provincial government needs the money. To quote from the information release obtained off the above
website: "The cost of managing hunting, trapping and angling programs exceeds the revenue generated from licence sales. The proposed fee increases are intended to help the Department cover the cost of some of these programs and the administrative costs of printing and issuing licences under the present licensing system."
Note that these increases are currently proposed increases, but are to be implemented, some on June 1 of this year and others on Jan. 1, 2010.
It is likely residents will not be happy with these increases. Apparently, the general public and relevant organizations such as the New Brunswick Wildlife Federation were not consulted or made aware of these increases prior to the news release. One can understand an increase of five or even 10 per cent, but in many cases the increases are 20 per cent or more.
The first instinct by many is to complain bitterly, and to take the DNR and its people to task over these increases. Yet, it's clear that the demand for these increases came down from on high; that is to say, from the Graham government, which is finding itself in a very difficult financial position.
Hence, a wide variety of fees and licences are being increased, the civil service is being cut, other cost-cutting measures are scheduled and in general, residents are being required to pay more for less. For this, the Graham government is blaming hard times world-wide.
Perhaps it's time to step back and take a look at the overall picture. And here we may be the devil's advocate, as we note that even with the increases, hunting, fishing and trapping licences are relatively inexpensive compared to the costs of other recreational activities such as curling or golfing. Those who curl or golf often pay yearly club membership fees that can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. The snowmobiler must pay a trail fee, and have proper insurance, all costing a significant amount.
We recall talking to one hunter many years ago who was complaining about paying the then-new $5 conservation fee, although at the time he was standing beside his four-wheel-drive truck, which must have cost at least $30,000, and was holding a rifle and scope combination costing over $1,000.
On the other side of the coin, for most of the last 100 years, hunting, fishing and trapping have often been the sole recreational activities of the common man, those who were at the low end of the income scale and could not afford to join a curling or golf club. It's those folks who will be hardest hit by these increases, with sacrifices required if they are to continue.
As for the vast majority who have a reasonable income, keep in mind that gas and other costs inherent in hunting and fishing outrank by a significant amount the new cost of these licences. Will the number of people who hunt and fish decline as a result of these increases? Only time will tell.
Conservative member of Parliament Gary Breitkreuz's private member's Bill C-301, which would do away with the long-gun registry, combine the POL and PAL and simplify ATTs, is due to be debated in Parliament in the next few days. It's hoped that all parties will allow a free vote of their members, but that is uncertain even though several members of the opposition parties have indicated that they would vote for this bill. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has clearly indicated that he supports this bill, and has pointed out that the long-gun registry only penalizes the law-abiding farmer and duck hunter while doing nothing to curtail the criminal use of firearms.
As for the concern that without the long-gun registry, the police will find it impossible to know if a residence has firearms, that's simply not valid, as firearms owners will still be required to have a firearms licence and list their place of residence. Yet, that only applies to law-abiding firearms owners, as criminals do not obtain firearms licences, or bother to register their firearms.
Last but not least, don't forget the Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum scheduled for this weekend.
Everett Mosher is a Sackville writer and outdoors enthusiast. His column appears Tuesdays.