As Yorkton-Melville MP Garry Breitkreuz prepares to return to Ottawa this week, his personal priority is continuing his advocacy on behalf of recreational hunters and anglers.
Of particular concern to Breitkreuz are cuts to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). In the past nine months budget cuts have resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 DFO jobs and the closure of several offices in an effort to save the treasury close to $80 million annually.
While the federal government has assured concerned organizations and individual Canadians that the impact of the cuts will not be as dramatic as it may seem, Breitkreuz is not yet convinced it won't affect water conservation, spawning grounds and an economic windfall he says is approximately $500 million in Saskatchewan alone ($7.4 billion across the country).
"At this point, I am investigating," the MP told Yorkton This Week. "I don't want the industry to be negatively impacted."
As a founder and chair of the government's all-party Outdoors Caucus, Breitkreuz has a long-standing interest in preserving Canadian heritage activities including fishing, hunting, trapping and sport shooting.
Of course, all indications are that the government's over-riding priority will be the economy, but Breitkreuz was unable to say what form that might take before Conservative Party caucus meetings begin September 19.
"I can't tell in advance what legislation will be introduced, but I'm sure The Economic Action Plan will be front and centre in our discussions because we're not over the turmoil the whole world is experiencing," he said.
The second session of the 41st Parliament of Canada starts Monday, September 17 in the House of Commons.
The Senate goes back to work Tuesday, September 25.
