Hunter in the field

We Fish. We Hunt. We Trap.

We Vote

National Fishing and Hunting Collaborative
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Manitoba Wildlife Federation
Yukon Fish and Game Association
Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Alberta Fish and Game
Saskatchwan Wildlife Federation
Newfoundland Wildlife Federation
Prince Edward Island Wildlife Federation
NWT Wildlife Federation
British Columbia Wildlife Federation
New Brunswick Wildlife Federation
Federation Quebecoise des Chasseurs et pecheurs

The National Fishing and Hunting Collaborative is a group of non-partisan, non-profit fishing and hunting organizations that work collaboratively to provide national leadership on important conservation issues and a voice for more than 375,000 Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

We are diverse and we live in all areas of Canada

Why Our
Votes Matter

9 in 10Canadianssupport fishing, hunting and trapping
Source:Nanos Research
Fishing, hunting, trapping and sport shooting contributed
$13.2 billion
to Canada's gross domestic product in 2018 – 0.6% of the Canadian economy.
In 2018, these activities supported
nearly 107,000 Canadian jobs
labour income estimated at $6.4 billion
The economic benefit from these activities boosted federal and provincial government revenue by 6.1 Billion in 2018
Canadians in the outdoors 2.97 Million Licensed Anglers 1.27 Million Licensed Hunters 45 Thousand Licensed Trappers 1.40 Million
Sport  Shooters
Direct Spending in Canada
  • Fishing$10.3 Billion
  • Hunting$5.9 Billion
  • Trapping$130 Million
  • Sport Shooting$2.6 Billion
  • Total$18.9 Billion

Why Focus on Fishing, Hunting and Trapping?

  • Direct interest of a large and diverse community of millions of Canadians
  • Enormous opportunities for sustainable growth in the industry
  • Fishing, hunting, & TRAPPING contribute to rare triple bottom line BENEFITS: economy + environment + social
  • Nature-based climate solutions through habitat protection and rehabilitation

PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION

Re-establishing HAAP (Hunting and Angling Advisory Panel) represents a low-cost-high-impact opportunity for political parties to meaningfully capture the interests of the millions of Canadians who fish and/or hunt by:

  • fostering national collaboration and unity on environmental issues
  • filling a gap by giving national focus to an important environmental community
  • centralizing reliable and credible advice on a broad range of environmental issues from a sustainable use lens
  • helping to unpack, integrate, and prioritize complex conservation issues spanning multiple federal agencies

HAAP 2.0 mandate

The new HAAP would discuss issues and opportunities to offer broad advice to the Government of Canada on a range of policies, programs, and activities related to fish and wildlife conservation, especially those specific to fishing and hunting. An overarching objective of the panel should be to help inform the government on the development of an inaugural Hunting, Trapping, and Fishing Strategy for Canada, and encourage government promotion of fishing and hunting through the National Hunting, Trapping, and Fishing Heritage Day and other dedicated programs.

HAAP 2.0 scope

The new HAAP would focus on areas of national interest and significance. This would include topics of federal jurisdiction (e.g., migratory birds, some recreational fishing, fish habitat) as well as broader consideration for the development of a strategic and integrated backstop of national support for enhancing the environmental, social, and economic benefits of fishing and hunting across Canada.

HAAP 2.0 membership

Committee membership should be from national and provincial/territorial fishing and hunting organizations with broad ranging interests. Representatives from the affiliate organizations of the NFHC should make up the core of the committee to ensure the inclusion of coast-to-coast-to-coast interests and perspectives. Committee membership should avoid species-specific or other interests with too narrow of a lens on fishing and hunting issues.

The National Five

The top-ranked priorities from the last election remain important, and the NFHC is asking each major political party for meaningful responses for how they would address them if they form the next government.

  1. PROMOTION OF FISHING, HUNTING and TRAPPING
    Priority Fishing, hunting and trapping are important heritage activities, continue to be socially and culturally important to millions of Canadians, help to fund conservation, and generate $13.2 billion annually for our national economy.
    NFHC Ask We are seeking a commitment to develop and implement a National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Strategy that outlines how the government can actively promote these activities, including government support to elevate the status of National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day, increase participation, and encourage related domestic tourism.
    DOWNLOAD PRIORITY BACKGROUNDER
  2. FIREARMS POLICY
    Priority Arbitrary classification and blanket firearms bans are becoming increasingly common around the world based on emotional social responses to the appearance or perception of a firearm. Prohibitions on firearms should only be implemented through a consistent, transparent, and evidence-based classification process that fully consults firearms users.
    NFHC Ask We are seeking a commitment to take a strong position and action on organized crime, gangs, other illegal firearms activities and the associated root causes of firearms-related crime, AND rescind current blanket bans on firearms while not implementing new ones.
    DOWNLOAD PRIORITY BACKGROUNDER
  3. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
    Priority CWD continues to spread across North America, threatening wildlife populations, our economy (including restrictions on trade of agricultural goods), and public health through exposure in the human food chain and blood supply.
    NFHC Ask We are seeking a commitment to prohibit the movement of live cervids within and between provinces/territories and across international borders AND phase out cervid farming with appropriate compensation for producers.
    DOWNLOAD PRIORITY BACKGROUNDER
  4. CONSERVATION FUNDING
    Priority There is a growing need for conservation funding in Canada and increasing uncertainty in government budgets at all levels to support these investments. There are a variety of tools used outside of Canada to establish stable, dedicated funding for conservation activities (e.g. U.S. excise taxes on outdoors goods).
    NFHC Ask We are seeking a commitment to create and invest in community-based fish and wildlife enhancement funding programs, AND explore new models for long-term and predictable revenue generation strategies to support fish and wildlife conservation, including the use of revenue from carbon pricing to fund nature-based climate solutions.
    DOWNLOAD PRIORITY BACKGROUNDER
  5. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
    Priority Invasive species continue to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in Canada. Species like zebra mussels, invasive tunicates, Sea Lamprey, and Asian carps pose a serious threat to our ecosystems and recreational activities, and cost hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy once established.
    NFHC Ask We are seeking a commitment to establish permanent and sufficient funding for consistent, integrated, and prioritized education and outreach, early detection, and rapid response efforts to fight aquatic invasive species.
    DOWNLOAD PRIORITY BACKGROUNDER

Other National Priorities

REMOVE BARRIERS TO FISHING, HUNTING, AND TRAPPING BY... permitting all sustainable migratory bird hunting and fishing opportunities, rethinking overly restrictive policies for species at risk and protected areas, investing in public access points like fishing piers and boat launches and approving the use, sale, and marketing of permethrin insect repellent to prevent Lyme disease.
ADDRESS THREATS TO FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION LIKE... habitat degradation, terrestrial invasive species, climate change, water quality and fish passage.

DEDICATED FUNDING FOR... conserving lands that permit fishing, hunting, and trapping and migratory bird conservation investments that match hunting permit contributions.

The National Fishing and Hunting Collaborative asked each major political party for responses and meaningful commitments to address the National 5 priorities. As we receive them, they’ll be posted below. Access them by clicking on the party logos.

NDP Logo
Conservative Logo
Conservative Logo
Bloc Logo
Green Party Logo
PPC Logo