The MLA for Kootenay East wants to help the City of Cranbrook deal with it’s urban deer problem.
MLA Tom Shypitka spoke at Monday night’s Cranbrook City Council meeting on the urban the deer population and steps that can be taken to deal with it.
Shypitka says it is time for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to develop a proper management plan to deal with the animals.
“But it’s been all government for the last 30 or 40 years have just never put a value on wildlife and on a holistic management plan,” Shypitka says. “And now we’re seeing that come full circle to the City of Cranbrook and other municipality where that lack of plan is failing and we’re left with these frustrating situations that we’re in. It doesn’t have to be this way.”
He says a major concern is Chronic Wasting Disease infecting the deer and spreading to pets, though currently the disease is south of the border in Montana.
“It’s a health concern and we know that,” he says. “That might be the stick that I can use to say Minister if [the deer] is indeed an asset of the crown and your asset is a threat to our health and safety, then what are you going to do about it?”
Mayor Lee Pratt has sent a letter to the Ministry, requesting a plan be developed and implemented by the Provincial Government.
– Tom Shypitka Kootenay East MLA
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