Whereas non-migratory resident Canada Geese populations are large and increasing beyond acceptable limits in many local governments, farms, parks and local areas in British Columbia, and are the source of numerous social, economic, environmental, human health and safety impacts and problems; And whereas the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was established at a time when all or nearly all Canada Geese were migratory between Canada and the USA and were in decline, and assigned the legal mandate for management to the federal government Canadian Wildlife Service in cooperation with the provinces provincial wildlife agencies; And whereas the Canadian Wildlife Service and the BC Wildlife Branch lack the capacity and mandate to manage non-migratory resident Canada Geese at the local government or local level: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Government of Canada to exempt non-migratory resident Canada Geese from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918; And be it further resolved that local government authorities in British Columbia be offered the option of choosing to undertake management of non-migratory resident Canada Geese in their communities; And be it further resolved that other orders of government provide funding to assist local governments who choose to undertake management of non-migratory resident Canada Geese in their communities.
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Canada geese are a federal responsibility. The Province, however, supports UBCM in efforts to gain more local control over the management of resident Canada Geese. In many areas, the goose population has increased to the extent that they are a general public nuisance that pose significant hazards to aviation, damage crops, create health risks, and damage parks, natural habitats, and recreational areas. The geese were artificially introduced into vast areas of the province in the 1960s and 1970s -- largely through federal government initiatives.