The recent closure of a wildlife protection office in western Quebec has raised concerns about the potential rise in poaching activities in the region. The shutdown of the office in Campbell’s Bay, which occurred this month, has left only three operational offices throughout the expansive Outaouais region spanning 33,000 square kilometers.
Martin Perreault, the provincial president of Quebec’s wildlife protection agency, Syndicat des agents de protection de la faune du Québec, expressed worries that the decision could result in an upsurge in poaching incidents. Perreault highlighted that the reduced presence of officers may deter residents from reporting incidents, fearing delayed responses or non-attendance.
Sharing a similar perspective, Marc Renaud, the general manager of Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, emphasized concerns about the potential escalation of poaching due to fewer conservation officers in the field. Renaud also pointed out the extended distances officers would have to cover, potentially leading to delayed responses and inadequate enforcement.
The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks in Quebec, reassured that despite the closure, the region would maintain adequate coverage through ongoing public awareness campaigns and report processing in Campbell’s Bay, Papineauville, and Gatineau. However, the southwest district, which includes Outaouais, Laval, and the Laurentians regions, relies on 42 wildlife officers to oversee the vast area.
Chantal Lamarche, the warden of the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau regional municipality, expressed apprehension about the closure’s implications, fearing that the next office to face shutdown could be in Maniwaki, Que. Lamarche criticized the decision-making process in Quebec City, suggesting that the closures may inadvertently encourage illegal poaching activities by diminishing the presence of wildlife officers.