Vol. 144, No. 14 — July 7, 2010

Registration

SOR/2010-139 June 17, 2010

MIGRATORY BIRDS CONVENTION ACT, 1994

Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations

P.C. 2010-764 June 17, 2010

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsection 12(1) (see footnote a) of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (see footnote b), hereby makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations.

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE MIGRATORY BIRDS REGULATIONS

AMENDMENTS

1. The portion of Table I.1 of Part I of Schedule I to the Migratory Birds Regulations (see footnote 1) before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE I.1

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS ON THE ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND

Item	Column Limit	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders and Scoters)	Column 3 Mergansers	Column 4 Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters	Column 5 Geese	Column 6 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a)	6	6	5	10
2.	Possession	12 (b)	12	12	10	20

2. The portion of Table II.1 of Part I of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II.1

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN LABRADOR

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Harlequin Ducks and Eiders), Geese and Snipe	Column 3 Mergansers, Scoters and Eiders	Column 4 Geese	Column 5 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a)	6	5	10
2.	Possession	12 (b)	12	10	20

3. Table III.1 of Part I of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE III.1

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Murres
1.	Daily Bag	20
2.	Possession	40

4. The portion of Table II of Part II of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE I.1

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders and Scoters)	Column 3 Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters	Column 4 Geese	Column 5 Woodcock	Column 6 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a)	6 (c)	5	8	10
2.	Possession	12 (b)	12 (d)	10	16	20

5. Table 1 of Part III of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE I

OPEN SEASONS IN NOVA SCOTIA

Item	Column 1 Area	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Harlequin Ducks) and Geese	Column 3 Ducks (Other Than Harlequin Ducks)
1.	Zone No. 1	Third Saturday of September (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	October 1 to December 31
2.	Zone No. 2	Third Saturday of September (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	October 8 to December 31
3.	Zone No. 3	Third Saturday of September (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	October 8 to December 31

 

Item	Column 4 Additional Seasons for Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, Scoters, Goldeneye and Buffleheads	Column 5 Geese	Column 6 Woodcock and Snipe
1.	No additional seasons	For a period of 11 days beginning on the first Tuesday after Labour Day (a) October 1 to December 31	October 1 to November 30
2.	October 1 to 7 January 1 to 7	For a period of 6 days beginning on the first Friday after Labour Day (a) October 8 to January 15	October 1 to November 30
3.	January 1 to 7	For a period of 6 days beginning on the first Friday after Labour Day (a)	October 1 to November 30
		October 8 to January 15

(a) In Zone No. 1, Zone No. 2 and Zone No. 3, hunting for Geese is allowed only on farmland.

6. Table II of Part III of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN NOVA SCOTIA

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders and Scoters)	Column 3 Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters	Column 4 Geese	Column 5 Woodcock	Column 6 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a)	5 (c)	5 (e), (f)	8	10
2.	Possession	12 (b)	10 (d)	10 (e), (f)	16	20

(a) Not more than four may be American Black Ducks and not more than one may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.

(b) Not more than eight may be American Black Ducks and not more than two may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.

(c) Not more than four may be Scoters.

(d) Not more than eight may be Scoters.

(e) In Zone No. 1, not more than a total of three additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily and not more than a total of six additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be possessed for a period of 11 days beginning on the first Tuesday after Labour Day.

(f) In Zone No. 2 and Zone No. 3, not more than a total of three additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily and not more than a total of six additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be possessed for a period of six days beginning on the first Friday after Labour Day.

7. The heading “Canards (autres qu’Arlequins plongeurs), oies (autres que les Bernaches du Canada et Bernaches de Hutchins) et bécassines” of column 3 of Table I of Part IV of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by “Canards (autres qu’Arlequins plongeurs), oies et bernaches (autres que Bernaches du Canada et Bernaches de Hutchins) et bécassines”.

8. Table II of Part IV of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders and Scoters)	Column 3 Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters	Column 4 Geese	Column 5 Woodcock	Column 6 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a)	6 (c)	5 (e)	8	10
2.	Possession	12 (b)	12 (d)	10 (e)	16	20

(a) Not more than three may be American Black Ducks and not more than one may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.

(b) Not more than six may be American Black Ducks and not more than two may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.

(c) Not more than four may be Scoters, and in Zone No. 1 from February 1 to February 24, not more than four Eiders may be taken daily.

(d) Not more than eight may be Scoters, and in Zone No. 1 from February 1 to February 24, not more than eight Eiders may be possessed.

(e) Not more than a total of three additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily and not more than a total of six additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be possessed for a period of 11 days beginning on the first Tuesday after Labour Day.

9. Table I of Part V of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE I

OPEN SEASONS IN QUEBEC

Item	Column 1 Area	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Harlequin Ducks), Geese, Woodcock and Snipe	Column 3 Ducks (Other Than Eiders, Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks), Geese (Other Than Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and Snow Geese) and Snipe	Column 4 Canada Geese and Cackling Geese
1.	District A	N/A	September 1 to December 10	September 1 to December 10
2.	District B	The Saturday preceding the opening of the migratory bird hunting season identified in column 3 (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	For a period of 104 days beginning on the first Saturday after September 11	The first Saturday after September 11 to the first Saturday after December 25
3.	Districts C, D and E	The Saturday preceding the opening of the migratory bird hunting season identified in column 3 (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	For a period of 104 days beginning on the first Saturday after September 11 (c)	September 1 to the Friday before the first Saturday after September 11 (a) The first Saturday after September 11 to December 16
4.	District F	The Saturday preceding the opening of the migratory bird hunting season identified in column 3 (d) (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	For a period of 96 days beginning on the first Saturday after September 18 (c)	September 6 to the Friday before the first Saturday after September 18 (a) The first Saturday after September 18 to December 21
5.	District G	Second-to-last Saturday of September (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	Last Saturday of September to December 26	Last Saturday of September to December 26

 

Item	Column 5 Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks	Column 6 Coots and Moorhens	Column 7 Woodcock
1.	September 1 to December 10	No open season	September 1 to December 10
2.	October 1 to January 14 (b)	No open season	For the period beginning on September 11 if that day is a Saturday or, if not, on the nearest Saturday that is before or after September 11 and ending on the first Saturday after December 25
3.	The first Saturday after September 11 to the first Saturday after December 25	No open season	For the period beginning on September 18 if that day is a Saturday or, if not, on the nearest Saturday that is before or after September 18 and ending on the first Saturday after December 25
4.	The first Saturday after September 18 to the first Saturday after January 1 of the following year	The first Saturday after September 18 to the first Saturday after January 1 of the following year	For the period beginning on September 18 if that day is a Saturday or, if not, on the nearest Saturday that is before or after September 18 and ending on the first Saturday after January 1 of the following year
5.	November 1 to February 14	No open season	Last Saturday of September to December 26

(a) In Districts C, D, E and F, hunting for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese is allowed only on farmland.

(b) In District B in the portion of the North Shore west of the Natashquan River, the hunting season for eiders and Long-tailed Ducks, respectively, begins on October 1 and ends on October 24 and begins on November 15 and ends on February 5.

(c) In District E, the open season for Barrow’s and Common Goldeneyes closes on October 21 in Provincial Hunting Zone No. 21 and 100 m beyond this zone. In District F, the open season for Barrow’s and Common Goldeneyes closes on October 21 between Pointe Jureux (St. Irénée) and the Gros Cap à l’Aigle (St.Fidèle) from routes 362 and 138 to 2 km within Provincial Hunting Zone No. 21.

(d) In District F, hunting for Coots and Gallinules is allowed during Waterfowler Heritage Day.

10. Paragraphs 1(a) to (g) after Table I of Part V of Schedule I to the Regulations are replaced by the following:

(a) “District A” means that part of the Province of Quebec included in Provincial Hunting Zones 17 and 22 to 24 inclusive;

(b) “District B” means that part of the Province of Quebec included in Provincial Hunting Zones 19 south, 20 and 29 and that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 21 included in the electoral district of Duplessis that is situated opposite to Provincial Hunting Zones 19 south and 20;

(c) “District C” means that part of the Province of Quebec included in Provincial Hunting Zones 12 to 14 inclusive and 16;

(d) “District D” means that part of the Province of Quebec included in that portion of Provincial Hunting Zones 18, 21 and 28 lying west of longitude 70°00′ and that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 27 lying west of longitude 70°00′ and north of the latitude at the Saint-Siméon wharf to Route 381 and from there to the northern limit of Provincial Hunting Zone 27;

(e) “District E” means that part of the Province of Quebec included in Provincial Hunting Zone 1; that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 2 lying east of Route 185 to its intersection with du Loup River and lying east of a line running along the centre of that river to the north end of the Rivière-du-Loup wharf; that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 28 lying east of longitude 70°00′; that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 27 lying east of longitude 70°00′ and north of the latitude at the Saint-Siméon wharf; and that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 18 and the waters of the Saguenay lying east of the limit of District D, including that portion of the waters of Chaleur Bay and the St. Lawrence River lying east of the ferry crossing from Saint-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup to the boundaries of Districts B and G;

(f) “District F” means that part of the Province of Quebec included in that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 2 lying west of District E; Provincial Hunting Zones 3 to 11 inclusive, 15 and 26; and that portion of Provincial Hunting Zone 27 lying south of Districts D and E, including that portion of the waters of the St. Lawrence River lying west of District E; and

(g) “District G” means the lands and waters included in the County of the Magdalen Islands in the Province of Quebec.

11. The heading “Périodes durant lesquelles l’oie des neiges peut être tuée” of column 2 of Table I.2 of Part V of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by “Périodes durant lesquelles l’Oie des neiges peut être tuée”.

12. The portion of items 2 to 5 of Table I.2 of Part V of Schedule I to the Regulations in column 2 is replaced by the following:

Item	Column 2 Period during which Snow Geese may be killed
2.	The first Saturday after September 11 to the first Saturday after December 25
3.	March 1 to May 31 (a) September 1 to the Friday before the first Saturday after September 11 (a) The first Saturday after September 11 to the first Saturday after December 25
4.	March 1 to May 31 (a) September 1 to the Friday before the first Saturday after September 11 (a) The first Saturday after September 11 to the first Saturday after December 25
5.	March 1 to May 31 (a), (b), (c), September 6 to the Friday before the first Saturday after September 18 (a) The first Saturday after September 18 to the first Saturday after January 1 of the following year

13. Note (f) of Table I.2 of Part V of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(f) Snow Goose call recordings may be used, but if used with decoys, the decoys may only represent white or blue phase Snow Geese, or any combination of them.

14. The portion of Table II of Part V of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN QUEBEC

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks	Column 3 Geese (Other Than Snow Geese)	Column 4 Snow Geese	Column 5 Coots and Moorhens	Column 6 Woodcock	Column 7 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a), (b), (c), (f)	5 (d), (f)	20 (f)	4 (f)	8 (e), (f)	10 (f)
2.	Possession	12 (a), (b), (c), (f)	20	60	8	16	20

15. Note (a) of Table II of Part V of Schedule I to the English version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(a) Not more than four American Black Ducks may be taken daily, with a possession limit of eight in Districts A, B, C, D, E, F (east of Route 155 and Highway 55) and G.

16. Note (b) of Table II of Part V of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(b) Not more than two American Black Ducks may be taken daily, with a possession limit of four in that portion of District F west of Route 155 and Highway 55. In the period beginning on November 1 and ending on the last day of the open season, not more than four American Black Ducks may be taken daily, with a possession limit of eight in that portion of District F east of the Gatineau River.

17. The portion of Table I of Part VI of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE I

OPEN SEASONS IN ONTARIO

Item	Column 1 Area	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Harlequin Ducks), Rails (Other Than Yellow Rails and King Rails), Moorhens, Coots, Snipe and Geese (Other Than Canada Geese and Cackling Geese)	Column 3 Canada Geese and Cackling Geese)	Column 4 Woodcock
1.	Hudson–James Bay District	September 1 to December 16	September 1 to December 16	September 1 to December 15
2.	Northern District	September 10 to December 25 (a)	September 1 to December 16	September 15 to December 15
3.	Central District	For a period of 107 days beginning on the third Saturday of September (b)	For a period of 107 days beginning on the day after Labour Day	September 20 to December 20
4.	Southern District	For a period of 107 days beginning on the fourth Saturday of September (c)	For a period of 11 days beginning on the first Thursday after Labour Day (d), (f) For a period of 11 days beginning on the first Thursday after Labour Day except for any Sunday within this period (e), (f), (g) For a period of 96 days beginning on the fourth Saturday of September (d) For a period of 106 days beginning on the fourth Saturday of September except for any Sunday within this period (e), (g) For a period of eight days beginning on the fourth Saturday of February except for any Sunday within this period (e), (g), (h)	September 25 to December 20

18. Table II of Part VI of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN ONTARIO

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks (Other Than Harlequin Ducks)	Column 3 Canada Geese and Cackling Geese	Column 4 White-fronted Geese and Brant
1.	Daily Bag	6 (a), (b), (c), (d)	5 (e), (f), (g), (h), (i)	5
2.	Possession	18 (a), (b), (c), (d)	24	15

 

Item	Column 5 Snow Geese	Column 6 Rails (Other Than Yellow Rails and King Rails), and Snipe	Column 7 Moorhens	Column 8 Woodcock and Coots
1.	10	10	4	8
2.	40	30	12	24

(a) Not more than one American Black Duck may be taken daily and not more than three American Black Ducks may be possessed in Central and Southern Districts and not more than two American Black Ducks may be taken daily and not more than six American Black Ducks may be possessed in Hudson–James Bay and Northern Districts.

(b) Not more than four Canvasbacks may be taken daily and not more than 12 Canvasbacks may be possessed.

(c) Not more than four Redheads may be taken daily and not more than 12 Redheads may be possessed.

(d) Not more than one Barrow’s Goldeneye may be taken daily and not more than three Barrow’s Goldeneye may be possessed.

(e) A total of not more than three Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in that portion of Wildlife Management Unit 1D in Hudson–James Bay District and in Wildlife Management Units 23 to 31 inclusive and 37 to 41 inclusive in the period beginning on September 10 and ending on December 16.

(f) A total of not more than two Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Unit 94 in the period beginning on the fourth Saturday in September and ending on the last day of the open season.

(g) A total of not more than three Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 82 to 86 inclusive and 93 in the period beginning on the fourth Saturday of September and ending on October 31.

(h) A total of five additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 36 and 45 in the period beginning on September 1 and ending on September 9; in Wildlife Management Units 42 to 44 inclusive and 46 to 59 inclusive in the period beginning on the day after Labour Day and ending on the Friday preceding the third Saturday of September; in Wildlife Management Units 60 to 81 inclusive, 87 to 92 inclusive and 95 in the 11-day period beginning on the first Thursday after Labour Day; and in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in Wildlife Management Units 60 to 81 inclusive and 87 to 92 inclusive in the eight-day period beginning on the fourth Saturday of February.

(i) A total of three additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 82 to 86 inclusive, 93 and 94 in the 11-day period beginning on the first Thursday after Labour Day and in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in Wildlife Management Units 82 to 86 inclusive and 93 in the eight-day period beginning on the fourth Saturday in February.

19. The portion of Table I of Part VII of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE I

OPEN SEASONS IN MANITOBA

Item	Column 1 Area	Column 2 Ducks and Geese	Column 3 Ducks, Geese, Coots and Snipe RESIDENTS OF CANADA
1.	Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 1	N/A	September 1 to October 31 (b)
2.	Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 2	September 1 to 7 (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 8 to November 30 (b)
3.	Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 3	September 1 to 7 (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 8 to November 30 (b)
4.	Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4	September 1 to 7 (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 8 to November 30 (b)

 

Item	Column 4 Ducks, Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, Coots and Snipe NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 5 Sandhill Cranes RESIDENTS OF CANADA AND NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 6 Snow and Ross’s Geese NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA
1.	September 1 to October 31	No open season	September 1 to October 31 (b)
2.	September 8 to November 30	September 1 to November 30 (a)	September 8 to November 30 (b)
3.	September 24 to November 30	September 1 to November 30	September 17 to November 30 (b)
4.	September 24 to November 30	September 1 to November 30	September 17 to November 30 (b)

20. Note (b) of Table I of Part VII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

b) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

21. The heading “Périodes durant lesquelles l’oie des neiges peut être tuée” of column 2 of Table I.2 of Part VII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by “Périodes durant lesquelles l’Oie des neiges peut être tuée”.

22. The portion of item 1 of Table I.2 of Part VII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations in column 2 is replaced by the following:

Article	Colonne 2 Périodes durant lesquelles l’Oie des neiges peut être tuée
1.	Du 1er avril au 31 mai
	Du 15 au 31 août

23. Note (b) to Table I.2 of Part VII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

b) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

24. Section 2 after Table I.2 of Part VII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

2. In this Part, the open season for geese for non-residents of Canada in Game Bird Hunting Zone 4, Provincial Game Hunting Areas Nos. 13A, 14 and 14A, that portion of Game Hunting Area 16 south of the north limit of Township 33, Game Hunting Areas 18, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 21A, 23A and 25 as described in the Hunting Areas and Zones Regulation (220/86) of the Province of Manitoba, made under The Wildlife Act (C.C.S.M., c. W130) includes only that part of each day from one-half hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon, local time, from the opening date up to and including the second Sunday of October, and after that period, geese may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. However, during the first week of the open season for Snow and Ross’s Geese for non-residents of Canada, which begins on September 17, these species may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

25. The portion of Table II of Part VII of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN MANITOBA

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 3 Ducks NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 4 White Geese (Snow and Ross’s Geese)
1.	Daily Bag	8 (a)	8 (c)	20
2.	Possession	24 (b)	24 (d)	80

 

Item	Column 5 Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling. White-fronted Geese, and Brant) RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 6 Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling, White-fronted Geese, and Brant) NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 7 Sandhill Cranes	Column 8 Coots	Column 9 Snipe
1.	8	5	5	8	10
2.	24	15	15	24	30

26. Note (b) of Table II of Part VII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(b) In Zone 4 for Residents, not more than 12 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks in total.

27. Note (d) of Table II of Part VII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(d) In Zone 4 for non-residents, not more than six may be Redheads or Canvasbacks in total.

28. The heading “Dark Geese (Canada and White-fronted) NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA” of column V of Table I of Part VIII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by “Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling and White-fronted Geese) NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA”.

29. Note (b) of Table I of Part VIII of Schedule I to the English version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(b) Except White-fronted Geese; open season for residents of Canada for White-fronted Geese begins on September 10 and ends on December 16.

30. Note (d) of Table I of Part VIII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

d) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

31. Note (b) of Table I.2 of Part VIII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

b) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

32. The portion of Table II of Part VIII of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN SASKATCHEWAN

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks	Column 3 White Geese (Snow and Ross’s Geese)
1.	Daily Bag	8 (a)	20
2.	Possession	24 (b)	60

 

Item	Column 4 Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling and White-fronted Geese)	Column 5 Sandhill Cranes	Column 6 Coots	Column 7 Snipe
1.	8 (c)	5	10	10
2.	24 (d)	15	30	30

33. Note (b) of Table II of Part VIII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(b) Not more than nine may be Northern Pintails.

34. Note (d) of Table II of Part VIII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(d) For residents of Canada, not more than 12 may be White-fronted Geese. For non-residents of Canada, not more than nine may be White-fronted Geese.

35. The heading “Dark Geese (Canada and White-fronted Geese)” of column 4 of Table I of Part IX of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by “Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling and White-fronted Geese)”.

36. Note (b) of Table I of Part IX of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

b) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

37. The portion of Table II of Part IX of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN ALBERTA

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks	Column 3 White Geese (Snow and Ross’s Geese)
1.	Daily Bag	8 (a)	20
2.	Possession	24 (b)	60

 

Item	Column 4 Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling and White fronted Geese)	Column 5 Coots	Column 6 Snipe
1.	8 (c)	8	8
2.	24 (d)	24	24

38. Note (b) of Table II of Part IX of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(b) Not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails.

39. Note (d) of Table II of Part IX of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(d) For residents of Canada, not more than 15 may be White-fronted Geese. For non-residents of Canada, not more than nine may be White-fronted Geese.

40. The portion of Table I of Part X of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE I

OPEN SEASONS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Item	Column 1 District	Column 2 Ducks and Geese	Column 3 Ducks, Coots and Snipe	Column 4 Snow and Ross’s Geese
1.	No. 1	Weekend before Thanksgiving weekend (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	For a period of 105 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend	For a period of 105 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend
2.	No. 2	Weekend before Thanksgiving weekend (d) Weekend before September 10 (e), (f) (Waterfowler Heritage Days on both weekends)	For a period of 105 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (c), (g) September 10 to December 23 (e)	For a period of 86 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (h) For the period of 19 days ending on March 10 (h)
3.	No. 3	First two-day weekend in September (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 10 to December 23	September 10 to December 23
4.	No. 4	First two-day weekend in September (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 10 to December 23	September 10 to December 23
5.	No. 5	Weekend before 15 September (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 15 to December 25	September 15 to December 25
6.	No. 6	First two-day weekend in September (q), (r) (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 1 to November 30 except for the first two-day weekend in September (q) October 1 to January 13 (r)	September 1 to November 30 except for the first two-day weekend in September (q) October 1 to January 13 (r)
7.	No. 7	September 1 and 2 (s) (Waterfowler Heritage Days) Second weekend of September (t) (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 3 to November 30 (s) September 1 to the Friday before the second Sunday in September The Monday following the second Sunday in September to November 30 (t)	September 3 to November 30 (s) September 1 to the Friday before the second Sunday in September The Monday following the second Sunday in September to November 30 (t)
8.	No. 8	First two-day weekend in September (Waterfowler Heritage Days)	September 12 to December 25	September 12 to December 25

 

Item	Column 5 Other Geese	Column 6 Brant	Column 7 Band-tailed Pigeons	Column 8 Mourning Doves
1.	For a period of 105 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (a) For a period of nine days beginning on the first Saturday of September (b), (c) For a period of 44 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (b), (c) For a period of 23 days beginning on the third Saturday of December (b), (c) For the period of 29 days ending on March 10 (b), (c)	No open season	September 15 to 30	No open season
2.	For a period of 105 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (i) For a period of nine days beginning on the first Saturday of September (c), (j) For a period of 44 days beginning on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (c), (j) For a period of 23 days beginning on the third Saturday in December (c), (j) For the period of 29 days ending on March 10 (c), (j) September 10 to December 23 (e), (k)	March 1 to 10 (c), (l)	September 15 to 30 (m)	No open season
3.	September 10 to December 23 (n) September 10 to 20 (o) October 1 to December 23 (o) March 1 to March 10 (o)	No open season	September 15 to 30 (p)	September 1 to 30
4.	September 10 to December 23	No open season	No open season	September 1 to 30
5.	September 15 to December 25	No open season	No open season	No open season
6.	September 1 to November 30 except for the first two-day weekend in September (q) October 1 to January 13 (r)	No open season	No open season	No open season
7.	September 3 to November 30 (s) September 1 to the Friday before the second Sunday in September The Monday following the second Sunday in September to November 30 (t)	No open season	No open season	No open season
8.	September 12 to December 25 (u) September 20 to November 28 (k) December 20 to January 5 (k) February 21 to March 10 (k)	No open season	No open season	September 1 to 30

41. Note (s) of Table I of Part X of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(s) Provincial Management Units 7-19 to 7-22 inclusive, 7-31 to 7-36 inclusive and 7-42 to 7-58 inclusive.

(t) Provincial Management Units 7-2 to 7-18 inclusive, 7-23 to 7-30 inclusive and 7-37 to 7-41 inclusive.

(u) For White-fronted Geese only.

42. The portion of Table II of Part X of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks	Column 3 White Geese (Snow and Ross’s Geese)	Column 4 Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling and White-fronted Geese)
1.	Daily Bag	8 (a), (c), (e), (i)	5, 10 (k)	5 (l)
2.	Possession	16 (b), (d), (f), (j)	10, 20 (k)	10 (m)

 

Item	Column 5 Brant	Column 6 Coots and Snipe	Column 7 Band-tailed Pigeons and Mourning Doves
1.	2 (g)	10	5
2.	4 (h)	20	10

43. Notes (i) to (m) of Table II of Part X of Schedule I to the Regulations are replaced by the following:

(i) Not more than two may be Harlequins.

(j) Not more than four may be Harlequins.

(k) In Provincial Management Units 2-4 and 2-5 only and for Snow Geese only.

(l) A total of not more than five Canada, Cackling or White-fronted Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily, except in Provincial Management Units 2-2 to 2-4, 2-8, 2-18 and 2-19 where five Canada Geese may be taken in addition to any other species of geese taken in Region 2.

(m) A total of not more than 10 Canada, Cackling or White-fronted Geese, or any combination of them, except in Provincial Management Units 2-2 to 2-4, 2-8, 2-18 and 2-19 where 10 Canada Geese may be taken in addition to any other species of geese taken in Region 2.

44. The portion of Table II of Part XI of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 3 Ducks NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 4 Geese RESIDENTS OF CANADA
1.	Daily Bag	25	8	15
2.	Possession	No limit	16	No limit

 

Item	Column 5 Geese NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 6 Coots RESIDENTS OF CANADA AND NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 7 Snipe RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 8 Snipe NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA
1.	5 (a)	25	10	10
2.	10 (a)	No limit	No limit	20

45. The portion of Table II of Part XII of Schedule I to the Regulations before the notes is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN THE YUKON TERRITORY

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks	Column 3 Geese	Column 4 Sandhill Cranes	Column 5 Rails and coots	Column 6 Snipe
1.	Daily Bag	8 (a)	5 (b)	2	0 (c)	10
2.	Possession	24 (a)	15 (b)	4	0 (c)	30 (d)

46. Note (a) of Table I of Part XIII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

a) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

47. Note (b) of Table I.2 of Part XIII of Schedule I to the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

b) Des enregistrements d’appels d’Oies des neiges peuvent être utilisés, mais s’ils sont utilisés avec des leurres, ceux-ci doivent représenter l’Oie des neiges en phase blanche ou l’Oie des neiges en phase bleue, ou une combinaison des deux.

48. Table II of Part XIII of Schedule I to the Regulations is replaced by the following:

TABLE II

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN NUNAVUT

Item	Column 1 Limit	Column 2 Ducks RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 3 Ducks NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 4 Geese RESIDENTS OF CANADA
1.	Daily Bag	25 (c), (g)	8 (c), (g)	15 (b), (e), (i)
2.	Possession	No limit (d), (h)	16 (d), (h)	No limit (b), (f)

 

Item	Column 5 Geese NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 6 Coots RESIDENTS OF CANADA AND NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 7 Snipe RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Column 8 Snipe NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA
1.	5 (a), (b), (e), (i)	25	10	10
2.	10 (a), (b), (f), (j)	No limit	No limit	20

(a) Except that non-residents may not take more than two White-fronted Geese daily and may not possess more than four.

(b) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay west of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, not more than a total of three Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily, and not more than a total of 24 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be possessed.

(c) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay west of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, the daily bag limit for ducks is six, with not more than two American Black Ducks and one Barrow’s Goldeneye.

(d) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay west of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, the possession limit for ducks is 12, with not more than four American Black Ducks and two Barrow’s Goldeneye.

(e) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay east of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, the daily bag limit is 20 Snow Geese and a total of five other geese.

(f) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay east of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, the possession limit is 60 Snow Geese and a total of 20 other geese.

(g) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay east of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, the daily bag limit for ducks is six, with not more than four American Black Ducks, one Barrow’s Goldeneye and one Blue-winged Teal.

(h) Except in that portion of islands and waters in James Bay east of 80°15′ W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, the possession limit for ducks is 12, with not more than eight American Black Ducks, two Barrow’s Goldeneye and two Blue-winged Teal.

(i) Except that the daily bag limit for Snow Geese is 20.

(j) Except that the possession limit for Snow Geese by non-residents is 80.

COMING INTO FORCE

49. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT
ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issue and objectives

The purpose of these amendments to Schedule I of the Migratory Birds Regulations (MBR) is to change certain hunting season dates for the 2010–2011 hunting season and to set daily bag limits and possession limits for migratory game birds. These amendments will ensure the sustainable harvest of migratory game bird populations. The amendment also creates an earlier opening date for the measures aiming to reduce the size of overabundant Snow Goose populations.

The hunting of migratory game birds is regulated in both Canada and the United States. Each country shares a commitment to work together to conserve migratory game bird populations throughout North America. In 1916, Canada and the United States signed the Migratory Birds Convention, which is implemented in Canada by the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. The objective and purpose of the Convention, the Act and the Regulations made pursuant to the Act is the conservation of migratory birds. For migratory game birds, this is accomplished, in part, by protecting them during their nesting season and travel to and from their breeding grounds through the establishment of annual hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits.

The hunting of migratory birds is restricted to a period not exceeding three and a half months, commencing no earlier than mid-August (and in most cases beginning September 1), and ending no later than March 10 of the following year. Within these limits, seasons are shortened to protect populations where there is concern over declining numbers. In other cases, seasons are lengthened to permit increased harvest of growing populations. Daily bag and possession limits can also be changed as necessary to manage the impact of hunting on migratory game bird populations. Every year population data describing the status of migratory game birds in Canada is gathered by Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee, published in the Migratory Birds Regulatory Reports Series, and used to develop amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations in consultation with the provinces and territories and the government of the United States of America.

Two years ago, the amendments established all season opening and closing dates in either a fixed or relative date format. Fixed dates are used where it does not matter on which day of the week seasons open or close, and relative dates (e.g. first Saturday in September) are used where it is considered important to maintain traditional seasons openings or closings on specific days of the week. The benefits of this approach are that it provides hunters greater predictability of future hunting season dates and has reduced the quantity of regulatory amendments required for subsequent years. Neither fixed dates nor relative dates require annual amendment, so changes for this year are restricted to those needed for conservation and management purposes only.

Description and rationale

Overabundant Snow Goose

Snow Goose populations have increased to the point where they have been designated as overabundant. Comprehensive reports entitled Arctic Ecosystems in Peril — Report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group (Batt 1997) (see footnote 2) and The Greater Snow Goose — Report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group (Batt 1998) (see footnote 3) demonstrated that the geese, increasing at a minimum rate of 5% per annum, are causing significant crop damage and negatively affecting staging and Arctic breeding habitats. In an effort to reverse population growth of Snow Geese, an amendment made to the Migratory Birds Regulations in 1999 created special conservation measures in spring during which hunters were encouraged to take overabundant species for conservation reasons and subject to specific controls, the use of special methods and equipment such as electronic calls and bait. At the same time, the number of days permitted for hunting during the fall hunting seasons has been maximized and very liberal daily bag and possession limits for Snow Geese continue to be recommended.

This regulatory amendment set an earlier date in Quebec when hunters may participate in special conservation measures from April 1 to March 1, beginning in 2011, to better include the peak migratory period. In addition, the former requirement to use only white phase Snow Goose decoys when using electronic calls is being changed to permit the use of white and blue phase Snow Goose decoys. This amendment harmonizes the Regulations with those in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta where the use of white and blue phase Snow Goose decoys is allowed. Field studies have demonstrated that the use of electronic snow goose calls during seasons that are open for dark geese (Canada Geese and White-Fronted Geese) does not result in the increased harvest of dark geese (Caswell et al. 2003). (see footnote 4)

The amendment also changes the opening dates of the fall Snow Goose hunting seasons for non-residents hunting in Manitoba to set (1) the opening date of the non-resident White Goose (Lesser Snow and Ross’s Geese) hunting season to September 17 in Game Bird Hunting Zones 3 and 4, and (2) the opening date of the non-resident season for all other migratory game birds to September 24, in Game Bird Hunting Zones 3 and 4. This amendment will complete the process of standardizing the opening dates as fixed dates for all migratory game bird hunting seasons in Manitoba, which will further improve regulatory clarity and promote ease of understanding by the public, hunters and outfitters. No changes in harvest levels or participation are expected to occur as a result of this change.

Canada Geese

Nova Scotia

The amendment creates an early September Canada Goose season in Nova Scotia (all zones). This amendment will help to reduce nuisance and crop depredation problems associated with Canada Geese. Similar seasons are currently in place in other provinces in Canada (including New Brunswick) and have been considered an effective element in controlling population growth for temperate-breeding Canada Geese. Spring surveys conducted annually to estimate numbers of waterfowl breeding in the Maritime provinces have identified a 10-fold increase in the abundance of breeding Canada Geese over the past 15 years.

The early September season will occur before most migrant geese arrive in Nova Scotia and will therefore increase harvest pressure on locally breeding geese only. In order to prevent disturbance to other waterfowl, hunting during the September Canada Goose season would be restricted to farmland only. The bag and possession limits are being established at 8 and 16 birds respectively.

Manitoba

The amendment increases the daily bag limit of Canada and Cackling Geese from five to eight throughout the province for all Canadian residents. The proposed change will provide Canadian residents with opportunity to increase their daily harvest of Canada and Cackling Geese, numbers of which have been either increasing (Temperate Nesting Population and Tall Grass Prairie Population) or stable (Eastern Prairie Population) in recent years. The change will also harmonize Canada and Cackling Goose bag limits (for Canadian residents) with those in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

This change is expected to have only a small effect on Canada and Cackling Goose harvest in Manitoba because

(1) Canadian residents only partially influence harvest in Manitoba because non-Canadians account for 44–53% of the total annual goose harvest,

(2) Canadian residents only harvest an average of six to nine Canada/Cackling Geese per season in Manitoba, and very few (8–12%) harvest a possession limit (15) or more of any geese in an entire season,

(3) Average annual Canada/Cackling Goose harvest per Canadian hunter in Manitoba is similar to that in Saskatchewan and Alberta where bag limits are currently higher and opportunity similar,

(4) Canada/Cackling Goose harvest increased only slightly since the same regulation change occurred in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1996 and 1998, respectively, and is probably more related to increasing goose populations and hunting opportunity because harvest in Manitoba (with relatively stable regulations) has also increased during this time, and

(5) Between 2004 and 2008, a bag limit of eight Canada/Cackling Geese instead of five increased resident harvest by only 3% in Saskatchewan, where harvest opportunity is similar.

Increase in overall possession limits

The amendment increases possession limits for migratory game birds for all species of migratory game birds, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. This change is intended to increase opportunities for hunters who might otherwise be forced to stop hunting and to avoid their having to give away their birds to continue hunting, after as few as two days. Non-resident hunters commonly hunt for at least three days.

This change is expected to have little effect on harvests of waterfowl. It is unlikely that possession limits currently restrict harvest to a significant degree, because (1) a relatively small proportion of hunters harvest more than one possession limit of ducks or geese over the course of an entire season, (2) under the Regulations, successful hunters have the option of giving birds away in order to continue hunting, and (3) previous experience (e.g. past increases in possession limits did not increase the harvest appreciably, although the increase was appreciated by the most enthusiastic part of hunter population — unpublished data from Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service) suggests that increasing possession limits will not affect overall harvest. In summary, this amendment will allow successful hunters to retain more of the birds that they harvest without adversely affecting waterfowl populations, and may increase opportunities for some hunters, particularly non-residents, most of whom hunt for only a short period of time. Effects of this change will be evaluated by continuing to monitor hunter numbers and harvests of all migratory game birds.

Administrative amendments

There are administrative amendments to correct oversights, harmonize species names, clarify boundaries of no-hunting zones, and simplify and clarify regulations (open season tables). Also, these administrative amendments make corrections and clarifications, and ensure consistency between the English and French Regulations.

Benefits

The control of hunting season dates and the number of migratory game birds that may be taken and possessed during those dates help to ensure migratory game bird populations are maintained. These conservation measures are necessary to meet Canada’s international obligations under the Migratory Birds Convention, 1916. They also address Canada’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity to ensure that species are not jeopardized by over-hunting.

These Regulations also help to ensure that a sustained yield of direct and indirect economic benefits will continue to accrue to Canadians at a very low enforcement cost. These benefits to Canadians result from both hunting and non-hunting uses of migratory birds. The economic benefits of hunting are considerable. According to estimates based on the 2000 Environment Canada document entitled The Importance of Nature to Canadians, the total value of all activities associated with migratory birds contributes $527 million in direct annual benefits to the Canadian economy. Of that total, about $94.4 million was attributed solely to the value associated with hunting of migratory game birds. Furthermore, Wildlife Habitat Canada estimated in 2000 that over the preceding 15 years, Canadian migratory bird hunters contributed $335 million and 14 million hours of volunteer work to habitat conservation for migratory game birds. This work benefits non-game species as well.

Consultation

The Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada has formalized the consultation process used each year to determine hunting season dates and the number of migratory game birds that may be taken and possessed during those dates.

The consultation process for the 2010–11 season began in November 2009 when initial biological information on the status of all migratory game bird populations was presented for discussion in the annual report Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada - 2009. Based on the discussions, regulatory proposals were developed jointly by the Canadian Wildlife Service and the provinces and territories. The proposals were described in detail in the report Proposals to amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations — 2010. These two consultation documents are available at www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com/default.asp?lang=en&n=62F2AA13.

As well as being posted on the Internet, the reports were distributed directly to federal biologists in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, Greenland and St. Pierre and Miquelon, provincial and territorial biologists, migratory game bird hunters and Aboriginal groups. The documents were also distributed to non-government organizations, including the Canadian Wildlife Federation and its provincial affiliates, Canadian Nature Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited and the Delta Waterfowl Research Station. No comments or concerns were raised in response to the publication and distribution of these consultation documents. Furthermore, no concerns were raised in response to these proposals throughout the consultation process.

A Notice of Intent was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on January 23, 2010, indicating that Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service was proposing to modify the Migratory Birds Regulations in accordance with the proposals outlined in the report Proposals to amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations - 2010. Public comment was requested before February 26, 2010. No comments were received during this period.

Biologists from Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service met with their provincial, territorial and U.S. counterparts in technical committees from November 2009 through February 2010 to discuss new information on the status of migratory game bird populations and, where necessary, to revise the proposals for regulatory changes. The work of the technical committees, as well as information received from migratory game bird hunters and non-government organizations, led to the development of these specific regulatory amendments. The current set of amendments represents the consensus reached over the proposals outlined in the Proposals to amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations - 2010.

Individual hunters play an important role in the annual adjustment of these regulations. Hunters provide information about their hunting, particularly the species and numbers of migratory game birds taken, through their participation in the National Harvest Survey and the Species Composition Survey. These surveys are carried out each year by means of mail-in questionnaires that are sent to selected purchasers of the federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit. Through the cooperation of hunters who provide this information each year, Canada has among the best information on the activities of migratory game bird hunters available anywhere in the world.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, a person may receive a $300,000 maximum fine and/or up to six months in jail for summary conviction offences and a $1,000,000 maximum fine and/or up to three years in jail for indictable offences. There are provisions for increasing fines for a continuing or subsequent offence. Enforcement officers also have the discretion to issue tickets for some minor offences.

Enforcement officers of Environment Canada and provincial and territorial conservation officers enforce the Migratory Birds Regulations by, for example, inspecting hunting areas, checking hunters for hunting permits and inspecting hunting equipment and the number of migratory game birds taken and possessed.

Contact

Mary Taylor
Director
Conservation Service Delivery and Permitting
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-953-9097

Footnote a
S.C. 2005, c. 23, s. 8

Footnote b
S.C. 1994, c. 22

Footnote 1
C.R.C., c. 1035

Footnote 2
Batt, B.D.J. (ed.). 1997. Arctic ecosystems in peril: report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group. Arctic Goose Joint Venture Special Publication, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., and Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa

Footnote 3
Batt, B.D.J. (ed.). 1998. The Greater Snow Goose: report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group. Arctic Goose Joint Venture Special Publication, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., and Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa.

Footnote 4
Caswell, J.H., A.D. Afton and F.D. Caswell. 2003. Vulnerability of non-target goose species to hunting with electronic snow goose calls. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31(4):1117–1125.

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