FIREARMS FACTS UPDATE

RED-TAPE AND TAXES DRIVING HUNTERS OUT OF THEIR SPORT COMES AT A HUGE COST

Revised: January 6, 2004

AS PART OF AN ONGOING PROJECT TO CALCULATE THE TOTAL ECONOMIC COST AND IMPACT OF THE FIREARMS ACT, GARRY BREITKREUZ, MP HAS RELEASED THESE PRELIMINARY DATA

11,857 FEWER FIREARMS BUSINESSES SINCE 1979

The number of businesses selling firearms and ammunition dropped by 11,857 between 1979 and 2001.   In 1979, there were 16,420 Firearm Businesses Licenses issued by the RCMP.  In 2001, the RCMP issued just 4,563.  That’s a loss of 538 businesses a year and thousands of jobs that go with them.  Most of this negative economic impact was as a result of Liberal gun control laws targeting law abiding recreational shooters and sportsmen.

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/Article201.htm

NUMBER MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTERS DROP BY 356,000 SINCE 1978

Since the government started introducing gun control laws targeting law abiding firearms owners in 1979, the number of hunters in Canada has been in a steady decline.  While some of this drop may be due to “cultural attitudes towards hunting and shooting sports” much of the decline can be attributed to government red tape.  For example, between 1966 the number of Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permits issued was 380,059 reaching a high of 524,946 in 1978 and dropping to just 168,091 in 2003.  Source: Canadian Wildlife Service Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 5 – December 2003.

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/MigratoryBirdPermits-1966-2003..xls

REGULATOR COST OF PURCHASING A HUNTING RIFLE = $279

On April 28, 2000 the Canadian Firearms Program Advisory Committee reported the Regulatory cost of purchasing a hunting rifle: Federal Firearms Licence (PAL) $60; Provincial Licence $45; Safety Course $150; Photo $10; Registration $14; TOTAL $279.  Source: Dept. of Justice Access to Information Act File: A-2000-0209 – March 19, 2002.

B.C. WILDLIFE ACCIDENTS CAUSE 13 DEATHS AND $67 MILLION IN CLAIMS

Since 1978, over 70,000 wildlife accidents have been reported on provincial highways.  More than 90% of accidents involved deer, moose and elk.  Between 1995 and 2000, 13 people were reported killed in wildlife-related motor vehicle accidents in British Columbia.  After weather, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) rates wildlife as the next highest environmental contributing factor for police-attended accidents.  Between 1997 and 2000, ICBC spent over $67 million on wildlife related motor vehicle accident claims.

In 2000, over 4,700 wildlife-related accidents were reported in British Columbia.  In 2000, it is estimated wildlife accidents cost the Province over $18 million in motor vehicle accident claims; $600,000 in highway clean-up costs; $300,000 in lost provincial hunting licence revenues; $30 million in lost value to residents and non-residents who view or hunt wildlife. 

Source: The British Columbian Ministry of Transportation (MoT) administers the Wildlife Accident Reporting System (WARS) 2000 Annual Report.

90,313 WILDLIFE ACCIDENTS IN ONTARIO BETWEEN 1988 AND 2000

The Ontario Road Safety Annual Reports between 1988 and 2000 show a total of 90,313 motor vehicle accidents involving wild animals in Ontario – from a low of 3,991 wildlife accidents in 1988 to a record high of 10,388 in the year 2000.  Over this 12-year period, there have been a total of 4,813 wildlife accidents resulting in personal injury and 57 human fatalities. 

Source: Ontario Road Safety Annual Reports 1988-2000, Table 3.3 (Note: The report for 2000 was released June 20, 2002).

WILDLIFE DAMAGES COST ONTARIO FARMERS OVER $41 MILLION IN 1998

The Wildlife Impact Assessment for Ontario Agriculture was conducted by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association on behalf of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council, to investigate the economic impacts of wildlife on agriculture on a sector and species wide basis.  Funding was provided under the Ontario Research and Development Program by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and administered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

Results of the study indicate Ontario farmers overall are finding wildlife-caused losses to their crops and livestock have generally increased over the last 5 years.  Over one-third of producers have experienced what they describe as ‘significant’ wildlife caused losses in the last five years to one or more commodities on their farm.  Wildlife damages cost Ontario farmers over $41 million in 1998.

In efforts to keep losses within tolerable levels, farmers try various means of preventing losses.  Results indicate more farmers have found their investments in prevention measures have increased over the last five years.  Annually, over $7.5 million and over 800,000 hours were invested in the abatement of wildlife damages. 

Farmers viewed the most effective means of reducing impacts of wildlife caused losses on their farm to include an improved program to link hunters to farmers; financial compensation of losses; subsidies for preventative techniques and better access to advice on preventative measures. 

Source: Final Report, Wildlife Impact Assessment for Ontario Agriculture – March 2000.