The Honorable Oscar Lathlin
Room 333
Manitoba Legislature
Winnipeg Manitoba
March 15,2000

Dear Mr. Lathlin;

I am writing this letter to you concerning Bill 5, the proposed Amendments to the Wildlife Act. I am currently the President of the Manitoba Canary and Finch Club. We have an active membership of approximately 30 members and their families. In addition to the active members of our Club we have knowledge of at least another sixty people who keep and breed canaries and finches within the Province of Manitoba.

The Manitoba Canary and Finch Club has been involved in public displays as well as educating the public about canaries and finches. We have also been involved in the setting up of display cages at a number of senior citizen complexes. If this Amendment is not changed these activities, along with the keeping and breeding of cage birds will no longer be possible.

Our concerns deal with the proposed Amendments, specifically to the usage of the word "exotic" and the definition of "exotic". Our understanding is that the term "exotic wildlife", as defined in the Amendment, means animals that are wild by nature and not indigenous in Manitoba. Am I correct in this interpretation? If I were correct in my assumption of the definition then I would also assume, according to the current definition, that all animals kept as pets, with the exception of cats and dogs, should be illegal. Am I correct in this assumption also? If I were to take it to the extreme I could use the example of my eighty three-year-old widowed mother who has a budgie for companionship. According to the proposed Amendment the budgie is not considered to be indigenous to the Province of Manitoba. Who will be telling her and dealing with it?

As you see I am taking the examples to the extreme in attempting to demonstrate to how the current vague wording and application of the proposed Amendments could affect citizens of Manitoba.

Over-farming, poor conservation, predators and disease in the wild currently threaten many of the exotic finches and canaries bred and maintained by our members and other hobbyists. The reality of our situation is that canaries and finches have been bred in captivity for so long they should and could be considered domesticated. Aviculture plays an important part in maintaining and breeding of many species that would be endangered if it were not for the aviculturist. Legislation already exists on both a national and global basis regarding the protection of exotic species. The CITIES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and WAPPRIITA - Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act have been in existence for many years. Cage bird hobbyists support these pieces of legislation.

It is imperative the term "exotic wildlife", as it now stands, be deleted and/or a more specific definition be put in place to deal with the original intent of the Amendment. The current definition is much too broad. Should you wish to contact me or require the input of those most familiar with the keeping and breeding of cage birds I can be contacted at the numbers listed below.
The proposed Amendment will have a profound impact on the local pet industry as well as hobbyists. While I understand the original intent of the Amendment to Bill 5 was to limit controlled hunting the wording as it now stands will impact on those of us who are not engaged in any controlled animal hunting practices.

I thank you for your consideration,

Yours truly

M.R.Crawford
Copies: All Manitoba MLA,s