Call for Comments on proposed amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations

Initiative: 
Proposed amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations
Deadline: 
31 Jul 2019

Environment and Climate Change Canada is proposing amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations. From the Regulatory Impact Statement:

Since being implemented in 1917, the Migratory Birds Regulations (the Regulations or MBRs) have been amended many times, often with isolated changes or fixes being made to deal with specific issues. They have never been subjected to a comprehensive review. As a result, the current regulatory text and structure, which contains errors and inconsistencies, is complex, outdated, lacks clarity and does not meet current legal standards. These issues can in turn lead to difficulty in their interpretation, in their application, in ensuring stakeholder compliance, as well as lead to issues in enforcing the Regulations.

In 1995, the Migratory Birds Convention was amended by the Parksville Protocol. A significant measure implemented in the Protocol was to recognize the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal people of Canada under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, with respect to harvesting migratory birds and their eggs. The provisions in this Protocol have not yet been implemented into the MBRs.

A final issue is that the MBRs are not in line with many of the current departmental policy directions, particularly in the area of migratory game bird hunting management. As a result, many issues and concerns, some going back over 30 years, have been repeatedly raised by stakeholders regarding the need for regulatory clarity, for the removal of irritants or burden that do not provide conservation value, and for the introduction of concepts and measures to improve migratory bird management in Canada.

The Government of Canada is inviting the public to review the proposed changes and submit their comments. In particular, the the Government of Canada would like to engage with:

  • general public with an interest in migratory birds
  • migratory game bird hunters, hunting businesses and organizations
  • Indigenous Peoples, governments and representatives
  • conservation organizations
  • natural resources industry
  • provincial and territorial governments, municipalities and co-management boards

More information & how to participate