Point of Privilege Resolution No. 4-01A

WHEREAS, livestock producers have had significant number of livestock lost to wolves and coyotes in the northern part of the province, and

WHEREAS, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management will not permit the livestock owners to poison these predators, and

WHEREAS, domestic livestock provide easier prey than wildlife species, and WHEREAS, this not only involves economic loss but is extremely cruel to domestic animals,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management take responsibility and compensate for the losses of domestic animals from wolves and coyotes, and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SERM take a lead role in initiating a bounty and/or implementing the use of bait stations to address the problem of population control of these predators.

Response from Hon. Buckley Belanger:

SERM recognizes that in many areas, predators create a financial hardship on livestock producers through predation by wolves, coyotes and foxes. SERM has relaxed regulations respecting the harvest of wolves, coyotes and foxes to remove any legislative impediments that may have prevented landowners from protecting their livestock.

Recently, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) announced a long term funding commitment ($200,000) for continuation of the Livestock Predation Control Program. The program was designed to assist livestock producers in controlling problem wildlife so as to prevent future losses of livestock by predators. Government is optimistic that through co-operation in working with affected producers, the predation problem with wolves and coyotes can be kept to a minimum.

Over the next two years, government will work with producers in assessing the predation control program to determine if any changes to the program or additional measures are necessary.