News release

Department Says Public Safety is Priority

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

The Department of Natural Resources respects the decision released Thursday by the Public Prosecution Service.

That prosecution service has decided to appeal the recent decision of Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Michael MacDonald relating to Section 68 of the province's Wildlife Act. Justice MacDonald ruled that the native community has the right to hunt at night with a light.

"This is a serious case with significant conservation and safety consequences," said Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage.

At trial the Crown argued that hunting at night with a light is unsafe and that in this case public safety was being breeched.

"Public safety is a priority for this department and for all Nova Scotians," said the minister. "Natural Resources will continue to enforce all regulations of the Wildlife Act, protecting the safety of every person in the province."

Section 68 of the act is also in place to protect the wildlife resource in the province, ensuring a healthy population.

"This section of the act is as important from a conservation perspective as it is from a public-safety point of view," said Mr. Fage.