For immediate release

June 2, 2011

Province must take a leading role in managing Kimberley’s urban deer: Macdonald

VICTORIA – While the City of Kimberley has done what it can to address the issue of urban deer, it is now time for the Province to take a leading role, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

The City of Kimberley has formed an Urban Deer Committee which studied all the options and has developed a plan to deal with the increasing urban dear population, and now is asking the provincial government for financial support.

“Mayor Jim Ogilvie has been told that communities are ‘on their own’, and I don’t think that is good enough,” said Macdonald.  “The deer are clearly the responsibility of the Province.  The provincial government must come to the table and provide some measure of financial support to assist communities that are struggling with this issue.”

Macdonald met with the previous Minister of Environment last year, and appreciated that the Ministry was willing to work with the community to develop a plan.  But now it is time to put that plan into action.

“The current situation is untenable, and inaction on behalf of the provincial government is not an option.  The Province must act, and act now.”