Regulations Amending the Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations: SOR/2019-114
Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 153, Number 10
Registration
SOR/2019-114 May 6, 2019
FISHERIES ACT
P.C. 2019-414 May 3, 2019
Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, pursuant to section 43 footnote a of the Fisheries Act footnote b, makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations.
Regulations Amending the Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations
Amendments
1 The Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations footnote 1 are amended by adding the following after section 4:
4.1 The licences referred to in paragraphs (c.1) and (e.1) of item 3 of Schedule IV are not valid in Nunavut waters.
2 (1) Item 3 of Schedule IV to the Regulations is amended by adding the following after paragraph (c):
| Column I |
Column II |
|
|---|---|---|
3 |
(c.1) resident Canadian (one day) |
10.00 |
(2) Item 3 of Schedule IV to the Regulations is amended by adding the following after paragraph (e):
| Column I |
Column II |
|
|---|---|---|
3 |
(e.1) non-resident (one day) |
10.00 |
Coming into Force
3 These Regulations come into force on April 1, 2020.
REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT
(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)
Issues
Business and leisure travellers to the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) are less likely to participate in one-day guided or unguided fishing experiences due to the lack of a one-day sport fishing licence. This negatively impacts tourism and local sport fishing businesses. Northwest Territories Tourism (which represents close to 200 tourism businesses) requested that one-day sport fishing licences be established.
Background
Pursuant to a 1976 order-in-council and a 1982 administrative agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories is responsible for the administration of the freshwater sport fisheries in the Northwest Territories and is entitled to retain money collected from licence fees. Sport fishing licences and associated fees are established in Schedule IV of the Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations, which are made under the authority of the Fisheries Act.
Previously, there were no one-day sport fishing licences in the Northwest Territories. Three-day sport fishing licences were only available for non-residents footnote 2 and Canadian residents, footnote 3 with fees of $30 and $15, respectively.
Seven other jurisdictions in Canada currently offer one-day sport fishing licences for non-residents and Canadian residents, with licence fees of $10 to $27.
Objectives
The objective of the regulatory amendment is to create one-day sport fishing licences for non-residents and Canadian residents in the Northwest Territories. The one-day sport fishing licences will promote tourism and support businesses offering services to sport fishing enthusiasts from outside the Northwest Territories.
Description
This regulatory amendment will establish new one-day sport fishing licences under Schedule IV of the Regulations, which will apply in the Northwest Territories, and will be made available for non-residents and Canadian residents, for a licence fee of $10 each.
N.W.T. Residents footnote 4 |
Canadian Residents |
Non-Residents |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonal |
Temporary |
Seasonal |
Temporary |
Seasonal |
Temporary |
|||
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Fees |
Days |
Fees |
Fees |
Days |
|
Current |
$10.00 |
N/A |
$20.00 |
$15.00 |
3 |
$40.00 |
$30.00 |
3 |
New |
No change |
No change |
No change |
$10.00 $15.00 |
1 3 |
No change |
$10.00 $30.00 |
1 3 |
“One-for-One” Rule
The “One-for-One” Rule does not apply to this regulatory amendment, as there is no change in administrative costs to business.
Small business lens
The small business lens does not apply to this regulatory amendment, as it does not impose any costs on small business.
Consultation
At its 2011 annual general meeting, Northwest Territories Tourism (which represents close to 200 tourism businesses) passed a resolution to request the implementation of one-day fishing licences. The resolution indicated that it is extremely important to have one-day sport fishing licences, as it would encourage more visitors to book short fishing trips with tour operators. At every subsequent annual general meeting, Northwest Territories Tourism’s membership has confirmed that the establishment of one-day sport fishing licences remains a high priority.
This regulatory amendment is supported by the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Rationale
The creation of one-day sport fishing licences in the Northwest Territories for non-residents and Canadian residents will provide another licence option for sport fishing enthusiasts from outside the Northwest Territories, promote tourism and support local businesses.
The one-day sport fishing licences will not result in adverse impacts. Three-day licences comprise less than 10% of sport fishing licences and thus the impact on angling pressure will be negligible. No angler is worse off, as the one-day licence will be offered at a lower cost than the three-day licence and the three-day licence will remain available.
Based on information and assumptions provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories, the establishment of one-day sport fishing licences for non-residents and Canadian residents is anticipated to decrease the demand for three-day licences by 10 to 20% as a result of some anglers switching from three-day licences to one-day licences. It is also anticipated that the one-day licences will result in an additional 10% increase in the issuance of one-day licences from anglers who would otherwise have not applied for a fishing licence at all due to the lack of the one-day licence option. The impact on overall sport fishing fees collected is anticipated to be negligible (plus or minus $1,000 annually).
Implementation, enforcement and service standards
Sport fishing licences are available online via the Government of Northwest Territories website, at local and regional Environment and Natural Resources offices, at Services TNO and from providers of fishing licences.
The implementation date for one-day sport fishing licences is April 1, 2020.
Contact
Sheri Andres
Manager
Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Central and Arctic Region
Telephone: 204‑984‑8122
Email: Sheri.Andres@dfo-mpo.gc.ca