The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
MR. ADAM OLSEN
HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:
CLAUSE 1: [Wildlife Act, section 1] adds a definition of "bear den".
1 Section 1 (1) of the Wildlife Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 488, is amended by adding the following definition:
"bear den" means a cavity within a tree, a snag, a stump or a log, greater than 0.80 metres in diameter, that is used by bears, shows evidence of use by bears, or is capable of being used by bears.
CLAUSE 2: [Wildlife Act, section 9.1] creates a new offence.
2 The following section is added to Part 1:
9.1 (1) A person commits an offence if the person, except as provided by regulation, disturbs, molests, damages or destroys a bear den.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to a bear den located on Crown land or private land throughout British Columbia.
CLAUSE 3: [Wildlife Act, section 84] is consequential to the addition of section 9.1 to the Act by this Bill.
3 Section 84 (1) (b) (i) is amended by striking out "under section 7 (5), 9, 17.1 (4)" and substituting "under section 7 (5), 9, 9.1, 17.1 (4)".
CLAUSE 4: [Wildlife Act, section 108] provides the Lieutenant Governor in Council with additional regulation-making powers respecting the preservation, protection and management of bear dens.
4 Section 108 (2) is amended by adding the following:
(b.2) respecting the preservation, protection and management of bear dens, including, without limitation, by
(i) establishing classes based on the species of the genus of Ursus using bear dens,
(ii) establishing classes based on an ecosystem or area of British Columbia in which a bear den is located,
(iii) prescribing protected areas of continguous mature or old forest around a bear den, and
(iv) prescribing the minimum distance that must exist between a bear den and a road, a right of way, or other structure or activity that may cause negative effects on bears using a bear den; .
5 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.
CLAUSE 1: [Wildlife Act, section 1] adds a definition of "bear den".
CLAUSE 2: [Wildlife Act, section 9.1] creates a new offence.
CLAUSE 3: [Wildlife Act, section 84] is consequential to the addition of section 9.1 to the Act by this Bill.
CLAUSE 4: [Wildlife Act, section 108] provides the Lieutenant Governor in Council with additional regulation-making powers respecting the preservation, protection and management of bear dens.