Placing a price "tag" on the life of "big game trophy" species in British Columbia has to stop.

I have just signed a change.org petition regarding Air Canada and West Jet Airlines transporting trophy hunters "trophies" from British Columbia, Canada.

While I abhor all forms of sport hunting and non subsistence hunting, trophy hunting is especially repugnant to me. The recent and justified worldwide outrage concerning Cecil the Lion’s death, has brought to the forefront that right here at home in British Columbia Canada, the Grizzly Bear and many other big game species are destroyed annually by trophy hunters. These magnificent animals lives are being sold in a lottery style draw by the government of British Columbia.

Over the past few years I have signed many petitions concerning the plight of the Grizzly Bears population here in British Columbia, to no avail. Despite overwhelming public opposition to trophy hunting in this Province, the draw for the hunt continues. The current governing Liberal party is not listening but supporting the unsustainable hunt to kill industry.

Posted on the governments own web site you will find this statement:
"No animal is more symbolic of our wild areas than the Grizzly Bear. As human populations have expanded, the Grizzly Bear’s habitat has shrunk."
“The current provincial population estimate (updated in 2012) is approximately 15,000 Grizzly Bears.”

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/big_game_info.html#GrizzlyBear

Search a little further on the governments web site and you will find a price list for a non resident hunting license and a species license. For the opportunity to kill a Grizzly Bear here in British Columbia, if you happen to win the draw, the winner pays 1,030.00 Canadian dollars for the Species License to Hunt and 75 to 180 more dollars for a hunting license. Prices subject to change, G.S.T. not included (add an additional 5% to the fee)

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/non_resident/#species

The Minister responsible for Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations is Steve Thomson whom was recently seen on the local evening news (after the death of Cecil the Lion media attention to the Grizzly Bear Lottery here in B.C was featured) and Mr. Thomson stated that here in British Columbia, science was used to determine and control hunting in B.C. With maybe 15,000 Grizzly Bears in existence (by the governments own estimations) and 1,656 permits available in 2015, it doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that if this lottery continues to provide the license to kill, the Grizzly Bear in British Columbia will be hunted to extinction.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/controversial-grizzly-bear-hunt-begins-in-b-c-1.2594640

Please sign my petition to stop this madness! Please comment and if you are a resident of British Columbia, please include in the comments section a message to your Premier and your Minister responsible for Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations, Steve Thomson.
Maybe the powers to be will respond to the loss of your support over this issue and Instead of ignoring the wishes of a vast majority of residents of British Columbia and the concerns from caring citizens from all over the world, respond to them.

British Columbia's tourist economy, generated during the hunting season, could easily be maintained by attracting hunters armed with camera's. The outfitters would never have their livelihood  threatened through poor management and government policies based upon guess work and profit. The outfitting industry would enjoy long term sustainability for future generations. The guides, their family's and the Grizzly would profit, long term.   

Please pass this petition along for all other animals that seem to attract death by their sheer magnificence, they need your voice.... but especially for the Grizzly Bear... the most magnificent of all.