Mr. Wayne McCrory, McCrory Wildlife Services Ltd.

Dear Mr. McCrory:

Thankyou for your letter of June 12, 2000, regarding the proposed Cayoosh Ski Resort, and specifically your concerns and recommendations regarding the potential impacts to grizzly bears.

As you are aware, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is participating in a joint federal-provincial environmental assessment of all aspects of the proposed project.  Under the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), a review is being conducted on both direct and cumulative environmental effects of the project, including impacts on grizzly bears.  In fact,  grizzly bears are being considered by both federal and provincial bear experts from Parks Canada and the provincial Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP).  Through their analysis, a mitigation plan is being developed to deal with a number of issues, including grizzly bear mortality and access control.  The grizzly bear mitigation plan will include a Bear Management Plan to be undertaken by the proponent and a Memorandum of Understanding between British Columbia Assets and Lands Corporation, the provincial Ministry of Forests and MELP.

The overall intent of the proposed Bear Management Plan, consistent with the CEAA decision process, is for the proposed development to have no significant adverse impact upon the Stein-Nahatlatch grizzly bear population.  For more information and to provide input on the proposed Bear Management Plan, I encourage you to contact Mr. Garry Alexander in MELP.

Thank you for bringing your concerns on this issue to my attention.

Yours sincerely, The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, P.C., M.P.

cc: The Honourable David Anderson, P.C., M.P.