Waterfowl Meeting Agenda
Waterfowl Meeting
February 28, 2024
- Introductions/Roll call
- History – review the history notes from the document mailed out and our webhttps://mloa.com/2024/02/24/waterfowl-modernization-update/site
In 2021 the province responded by releasing a concept proposal for discussion purposes. The Minister of Natural Resources then undertook a comprehensive consultation with the following organizations: Manitoba Lodge and Outfitters, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Travel Manitoba, Ducks Unlimited Inc. (USA), Delta Waterfowl, Keystone Agriculture Producers, Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Manitoba Wildlife Federation, Manitoba Habitat Conservancy, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Manitoba Hotel Association.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Manitoba Trappers Association did not meet but offered their public support of the proposed changes. After consultation with stakeholders, this initial round of consultations resulted in several changes to the initial proposals in response to specific concerns raised by stakeholders.
The province then published the detailed draft regulations along with an explanatory note for a 45-day public consultation process. Following that final round of consultations, the provincial Waterfowl Modernization Strategy was passed into force in November of 2022, in time for the 2023 hunting season.
3. Where we are at – review the resolutions we’ve submitted
Resolution 1:
Land needs to be added to definition of outfitting, as part of guide, accommodations, equipment, or
land.
Where as:
Many unlicensed waterfowl guides and outfitters lease private land to operate their businesses on. This directly impacts resident hunters and licensed outfitters. This addition would give enforcement another mechanism to combat the illegal waterfowl outfitting in the province.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
“Private Land” be added to the definition of Outfitting Service within (A)Equipment with a caveat to waterfowl hunting only, not other Outfitting Services i.e. hunting, fishing or ecotourism.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 2:
Guarantee of use of GHA area’s to be grandfathered to existing operators.
Where as:
Active licensed outfitters have investment in the community and in infrastructure. If there were to be changes to the outfitters operating area it would impact the community and the functioning of outfitting business negatively.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
Outfitter traditional GHA hunting areas listed on 2016-2019 ODF period be grandfathered.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 3:
GBZ 1 and 2 exemption to not be included in the draw or remain at 100% success (Maybe GBZ zone 1
allocation not required?)
Where as:
GBZ 1,2 are remote areas and for the most part and have limited access for waterfowl hunters due to the geography. Access and high-density of waterfowl hunters, as well as illegal waterfowl guiding and outfitting is assumed to not be an issue.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
GBZ1,2 is not included in the draw or remain at 100% success rate and excluded from the allocation process.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 4: if outfitters cannot guide draw license guests, does this result in draw license freelancers not able to retain the services of a guide, furthermore, will there be change that require the guide to be tied to a licensed outfitter. (same as big game for foreign residents) This could also apply to legacy landowners.
Where as:
The MLOA supports the spirit of the Modernization of Waterfowl Hunting in Manitoba project to have the freelance draw waterfowl hunter be a true DYI freelance hunter. We agreed with this philosophy and recommended making it illegal for a draw license holder to retain the services of a guide. This will help enforcement combat illegal guiding and outfitting in Manitoba. Currently a draw license may retain guiding services.
“Foreign resident migratory game bird hunters that wish to hunt on their own, without the use of a guide or outfitter may enter a draw for a seven-day licence, applicable for a period of their choosing and province-wide use”
(https://www.gov.mb.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/wildlife/mbwaterfowl.html)
A Manitoba guides license is not valid unless it is under the authority of a Manitoba licensed outfitter when guiding foreign resident waterfowl hunters. This would be consistent with all other foreign resident allocated hunting licenses in Manitoba. We feel this would help combat the illegal waterfowl outfitting / guiding and help the resident hunters with access.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
A Manitoba guides license is not valid unless it is under the authority of a Manitoba licensed outfitter when guiding foreign resident waterfowl hunters.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 5:
Process of transferring allocated licenses when selling a portion or entire allocation needs to be
clarified for selling business, transfer of unused allocated license from outfitter to outfitter.
Where as:
A process to be developed for transferring allocated waterfowl licences between licenced waterfowl operators in high and low use areas. What qualifies a high and low use area and what restrictions do they have? This process will be needed when an increase or a decrease is desired by the outfitter, example, selling of a business or a portion of. In big game there is license transfer minimums and GHA restrictions. Right now, outfitters have been grandfathered traditional GHA operating areas. What happens when an outfitter requests a transfer of allocated waterfowl licenses into other GHA grandfathered areas.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
We would like process for transferring licenses in high and low use areas. Create a process for transferring allocated licenses to increase or decrease allocation inside and outside grandfathered GHA’s.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 6:
Foreign resident ability to purchase more than one allocated license (some hunters hunt with more
than one outfitter)
Where as:
It’s known that waterfowl hunters hunt with more than one outfitter in a hunting season. We recommend that a foreign resident hunter be able to purchase an allocated waterfowl license from one outfitter then be permitted to purchase second from another outfitter. Maximum of 2 allocated licences per year but must be from different outfitters. This request would not impact the new waterfowl policy and the concern of Manitoba outfitters turning into American hunt clubs if multiple licenses were accessible.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
A foreign resident have the ability to purchase two allocated waterfowl licenses in one year.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 7:
What will the success rate of freelance draw be set at, part of the original agreement of MLOA agreeing
to being allocated was the reduction of freelance hunters and capping them at 1400.
Where as:
Confirming that the agreement of being allocated was to have a cap of 1400 freelance draw licenses available.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
A cap of 1400 freelance draw licenses is implemented.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 8 Outfitter license (RTO) requires amendment
Where as:
A modernization process take place with the branch of the waterfowl RTO license. The intent of this is to make sure that the waterfowl operating permit coincides with the new policy.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
A review of the waterfowl operating permit is current with the new policy.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
Resolution 9
Definition of Outfitter authority of RTO license to hold same authority as guides license.
Where as:
It is known that there are licensed waterfowl businesses in Manitoba that have foreign residency ownership who do not have Canadian citizenship. These operators are always tied to the hunt which then would require them to have a Manitoba guides license.
Therefore, be it resolved that;
A resource tourism operators license holds the same authority as a Manitoba guides licence.
Sponsor: MLOA Waterfowl Committee
Seconder
4. Review the legislative process/timeline
2024 Stakeholder proposed regulation change timeline
Please Note: the timelines above are approximate and actual regulatory change timelines may vary
depending on many factors including the complexity of the proposed regulatory change.
September 1
Deadline for Stakeholder Group to submit proposed Manitoba hunting
regulation changes to the Wildlife Branch to be in effect for fall of the
following year
September Request for Change submissions reviewed by Senior Management Team for
preliminary approval
October
Staff notified of recommended 2024 changes that are approved for
consideration/ Review Request for Changes with other Stakeholder groups
and Priority Users
November Wildlife Branch meeting to review staff and stakeholder comments and
finalize Request for Change submissions/Director Review
December Executive Approval to move to Regulatory Accountability process/ Ministerial
Briefing Package Development
January to March Regulatory Development process and regulation drafting.
November-July Hunting guide publication development
April Regulations finalized (if passed)
5. Latest update from government
-July 14th appeals will be received within 30 days
-additional two appeals received recently are not completed
-as per the legislative timeline table, submitted resolutions will be considered for the 2025 season.
2024 will be what we’ve currently received
The stakeholder group will continue to be the primary contact on this; review who this entails
6. Roundtable/Questions
