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BC  

No divide on grizzly hunt

A new poll finds most rural British Columbians oppose the trophy hunting of grizzly bears.

The telephone poll conducted in January by Insights West found 74 per cent of voters "in five rural ridings with strong hunting traditions are opposed to the trophy grizzly hunt."

“This poll categorically shows that there is no urban-rural divide on the issue of grizzly trophy hunting, something that has been asserted endlessly by politicians,” says Julius Strauss of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association.

“British Columbians want an end to trophy hunting by a clear majority, even in deeply rural ridings with strong hunting traditions. It's time government policy reflected that reality.”

Those who oppose trophy hunting of grizzly bears stands at 81 per cent in Kamloops North Thompson, 79 per cent in Boundary Similkameen, 78 per cent in Fraser Nicola, 66 per cent in Cariboo North and 65 per cent in Kootenay East.

“Few voters who cast a ballot for either of the two major provincial parties in 2013 are satisfied with the status quo on grizzly trophy hunting,” says Mario Canseco, vice-president, public affairs at Insights West. “Voicing support for the current state of affairs is not bound to be a winner with voters at their doorstep.”

The poll conducted on behalf of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association conducted from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31 has a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percentage points.



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