The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Elvis Lovelss, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture:

Mr. Speaker, today in this honourable House, I would like to bring awareness to a special permit program available to registered food banks, which allows them to accept and distribute donations of moose and caribou meat.

We are delighted to partner on this initiative with the Community Food Sharing Association, which represents 54 registered food banks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Hunters can donate meat directly to participating food banks, or through Share the Harvest NL, an organization which assists hunters, fishers and farmers, in donating locally-sourced food.

All donated moose and caribou must be processed at a government-licensed processing facility. Participating food banks are responsible for managing the collection and distribution of the meat donated by hunters

Mr. Speaker, permits can be obtained from the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture up to one week after the close of the big game hunting season, which falls on January 7, 2021. Registered food banks wishing to apply for a permit should contact our Wildlife Division.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Eg Walters of the Community Food Sharing Association, Barry Fordham of Share the Harvest NL and Debbie Wiseman of Social Justice Co-operative NL, for their support and advocacy of this program.

Hunters donating meat to participating food banks support the Provincial Government’s efforts to sustainably and responsibly manage big game and improve food security.

Congratulations to the province’s hunters and food banks on their exciting new partnership, which is aimed at getting more local, nutritious food on dinner plates throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.