Guide outfitters will benefit from greater business certainty starting July 1, when amendments to the Wildlife Act come into force more than doubling the maximum term of a guiding territory certificate.

Guiding territory certificates allow guide outfitters to exclusively ply their trade and hire themselves out to non-resident hunters in a defined area. The duration of these certificates will now increase from a maximum of 10 to a maximum of 25 years, giving guides increased business certainty.

A certificate issued after the changes are implemented can be renewed after more than 60 per cent of their certificate period has elapsed (15 years). Guide outfitters that renewed under the old system before the amendment was in place, can renew after five years have elapsed on their old certificate.

This change to guiding territory certificates follows on confirmation earlier this year that as of April 1, guide outfitters were provided triple the amount of time available to provide a hunting report to government from 10 days following conclusion of the hunt to 30 days.

Quotes:

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations -

"Being a guide is often a lifetime career and these new longer terms for guide certificates reflect this reality. These changes will help ensure guide outfitters continue to generate jobs for B.C. families, and remain true ambassadors of our province's wild spaces for years to come."

Scott Ellis, executive director, Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia -

"So much of our work relies on business certainty now and in the future. The changes confirmed today allow guide outfitters to make the long range plans necessary to continue to provide a first rate wilderness experience to our clients."

Quick Facts:

• There are approximately 245 licensed guide outfitters in the province employing over 2,000 people.
• Roughly 5,000 non-residents hunt in the province each year.
• The guide outfitting industry brings an estimated $116 million in economic activity to the province each year.

Learn More:

Visit the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia online at: http://www.goabc.org/

For additional information about regulations relating to guide outfitting in British Columbia, visit: http://wwwd.env.gov.bc.ca/pasb/applications/process/game_guide.html

To learn more about on non-resident hunting in British Columbia, visit:

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/non_resident/#GuideOutfitters

Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261