Darrel sent me this some time back.
Covering their tracks.
The game farming fiasco gets deadly serious.
by Darrel Rowledge
I am fully committed to putting the privatization/commercialization of wildlife issue through a thorough and public assessment. - Ralph Klein, December 1992.
For years I was hopeful that Mr. Klein would live up to his word, not just because the case against game ranching is so overwhelming, but because virtually all of the disastrous consequences predicted by wildlife scientists have been arriving like clockwork - and at great cost to taxpayers.
An epidemic of TB on game farms in the 1990s cost Canada its TB-free status, valued by Agriculture Canada at a billion dollars in lost trade. Forty-two people had to begin treatment for TB and dozens of elk and deer remain missing from infected/quarantined game farms.
Incredibly, the Alberta Government's response was to resist any legitimate analysis. It even lobbied to stop any federal assessment. Covering up the Alberta Government’s self-serving role in creating this mess appears to be much more important than integrity, safety and legitimate public process. Now, several alarming developments may finally spell the end of the cover-up.
In Saskatchewan, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), which was found in dead elk on game farms in 1996 and 1998, has been confirmed in six more game farm herds this past year. There are no live tests for TSE and it is always fatal.
As was the case when Britain first found TSE in cattle (mad cow disease), it has not yet been scientifically proven that TSE from elk has been transmitted to humans. However, the latest science indicates transmission to humans isn’t out of the question. Also, we now know the many bold reassurances from the British Government regarding mad cow disease were horribly wrong. More than 80 people are now confirmed dead from TSE contracted by eating contaminated beef and scientists fear there may be hundreds of thousands of more deaths to come.
Scientists have further confirmed that, in addition to nerve and bone tissue long considered the most likely sources for transmission - blood can also transmit the disease. In Saskatchewan, at enormous cost to taxpayers, officials are killing more than 1,500 game farm elk in an effort to stem the spread. Yet velvet antler - nothing but blood, bone and nerve tissue — is still being sold for human consumption, mostly in Asia where it is a prized aphrodisiac.
On October 18, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) began to destroy velvet from diseased animals even though Dr. George Luterbach of the CFIA says they are “fairly confident” that people will not acquire the disease from contaminated velvet.
Luterbach acknowledges that they have made no attempt to recall velvet already sold from animals now proven diseased, they have not attempted to notify anyone marketing velvet, and they have made no attempts to warn those who may still be in possession of potentially contaminated products.
Citizens in Montana have had enough. In November, voters passed a ballot initiative that will end the sport shooting of penned animals and phase out game farming. Among their main concerns? Diseases like TSE recently confirmed for the first time in that state — on a game farm.
No evidence of TSE has yet been found in Alberta’s 30,000 game farm elk, but rather than caution or undertake serious review, the Alberta government has been manoeuvring to lift the import ban on elk and deer. Then again, this industry has been a ‘pet project’ from the beginning.
The initiative to privatize and commercialize wildlife was first introduced in a thin 1984 White Paper, the Big Game Ranching Discussion Paper. Don Sparrow, Minister of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, committed to complete participation of the public prior to any such changes. In February 1985, after a groundswell of opposition, the Minister declared the issue “on hold.”
In April, Judd Bunnage from Alberta Agriculture co-founded the Alberta Game Growers Association and was elected Secretary-Treasurer. The Association’s self-stated purpose was to “unite game producers in Alberta to form an active, official lobbying group promoting the betterment of game ranching.” The Alberta Government had assisted in the formation of a group to lobby itself!
By late 1985 the Government was secretly drafting extensive regulations to allow the industry. In October 1986, they released the Game Ranching Issues Discussion Paper. This version was as shallow and biased as the previous; it turned out that the authors were both members of the Alberta Game Growers Association.
With the release of the 1986 paper, the public input process began. Submissions were allowed until April 1, 1987. The Minister reiterated that “the views of the public” would determine the fate of the industry. Conservation groups were told by the Government not to submit form letters because they would not count.
In the meantime, the Elgersma family, cousins of Peter Elzinga - Minister of Agriculture and currently Premier Klein’s chief of staff - secured a game farm permit and imported 149 elk, gamble of at least $300,000. In a pyramid breeding scheme, those in first stand to make the most.
Documents obtained through U.S. Freedom of Information legislation also show that Norman Moore, brother Marvin Moore who was then Minister of Hospitals and a former Minister Agriculture, had begun to import elk by October of 1986. Marvin Moore later became Ralph Klein’s campaign chair.
In December 1986, Don Sparrow appointed the Alberta Game Growers Association to the Wildlife Advisory Council. Larger organizations, actually interested in wildlife conservation, continued to be denied access.
In January 1987, an Alberta Agriculture research report confirmed that public research money ($96,000) had been directed to support game ranching. Judd Bunnage was appointed “Head of the Animal Breeding and Game Ranching Section.” In that capacity, and on Government letterhead, he asked all Agricultural Service Boards to support game ranching in the public participation process and provided form letters for that purpose.
By February, Bunnage confirmed large numbers of elk imports by people "speculating that the game farming regulations are going ahead." He admitted that “both Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife are pressing for game ranching.”
On February 26, 1987, by secret Order in Council (no.121/87 Don Getty Chairman) the Government legalized the industry! The “Captive Wildlife Regulations” provided for the sale of antlers, velvet, trophy heads and other body parts, and made available for sale virtually every species of publicly-owned birds and mammals.
Two days later, the Minister responsible declared to the Alberta Fish and Game Association’s annual convention, “I am going to oppose game ranching. I am going to tell my colleagues that.”
The public was still being told that the issue would be decided by public input. In March, Dennis Surrendi, Assistant Deputy Minister of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, told a large audience in High River that there is no need to send in further letters opposing game ranching because the Department had been swamped.
April 1, 1987: The exact day of the supposed deadline for public input, the “Captive Wildlife Regulations” come into effect, thereby legalizing the industry.
June 10, 1987: The Wildlife Advisory Council is told that 75% of 2,000 submissions favoured game ranching. The numbers are questioned because the Zone 2 Chairman (there are 6 zones) of the Alberta Fish and Game Association had collected and sent in more than 2000 responses opposing game ranching.
July 29, 1987: Minister Don Sparrow refuses to release a breakdown of the letters received but by late August he admits that the public input process had been skewed. Sparrow is immediately shuffled out of the wildlife portfolio. Replacement LeRoy Fjordbotten says he will oppose game ranching.
October 1987: The Provincial Ombudsman is asked to investigate the public input process. His finding, released in May 1988, confirms that the public input process had been manipulated.
By mid-1988, Agriculture Canada began lobbying the US to change their TB test because scientists had proven it grossly unreliable. The US refused. Under pressure from politicians, Agriculture Canada continued to allow imports relying on the flawed test.
May 2, 1989: During the election campaign Premier Getty states: “Game ranching is not allowed in Alberta, and the Government is not considering allowing it.” Aids scrambled to say that he meant for hunting and meat sales. A year later his Government introduces legislation to expand the industry, transfer jurisdiction to Agriculture, and provide for the sale of meat. Wildlife Minister LeRoy Fjordbotten explains “one of the nice things about politics is that you can change your mind.”
July 5, 1990: TB is confirmed on Melvin Elgersma’s farm - the largest game farm in the province. By November, TB is also found in Cliff Begg’s elk. Agriculture Canada suggests that, unlike the practice with cattle where compensation payments are limited to $l,500 per animal, compensation for elk will reflect “market value,” as much ~ $12,000 per animal. They later reduce it because of public outcry.
July 19, 1991: Agriculture Minister Ernie Isley announces that the province will help finance the establishment of market for elk meat. About half the game farm elk in Alberta had been slaughtered because of TB.
December 1, 1992: During the Tory leadership race, Ralph Klein signs a written promise: “I am fully committed putting the privatization/commercialization of wildlife issue through a thorough and public assessment.”
April 23, 1993: At the instruction the Minister of the Environment, the Environmental Protection Advisor Committee considers the pending review. They recommend that the matter be sent to the Natural Resources Conservation Board. On May 7, the Minister of the Environment confirms that the review will proceed, irrespective of a election.
Five days later, a letter from Premier Klein, dated April 22, arrives declaring that there will be no review. Klein states that there will he no review. Klein states that the issue had been thoroughly reviewed by experts prior to the introduction of the industry. He says these experts had determined the industry was feasible and had addressed all concerns in the white papers released to the public. Klein further suggests that the consideration included broad public input, the majority of which was in support the initiative.
TB is still being found. About 3,000 animals are eventually destroyed. The nation-wide epidemic has cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Animals remain missing from some infected quarantined farms.
June 10, 1993: In response to pointed questioning from the Calgary Herald Klein denies having reneged on the review. He promises that either the Natural Resources Conservation Board or some other panel will review the industry.
September 1995: During a meeting with leaders of Alberta’s environment organizations, Klein is presented with full documentation of the corrupt process outlined above. Again, he promises an investigation and public review.
We’re still waiting.
Not sure what you mean. No CWD here. Maybe you're thinking of Sask.?
