News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Bruce Dougan, the manager of the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, will be the chair of a newly appointed task force which will examine the province's exotic animal laws and regulations, Natural Resources Minister Paul Robichaud announced today.

"Now that results of the investigation has been turned over by the RCMP to the Crown Prosecutor's Office for review, we can now move forward and strike this task force," said Robichaud. "Our government thought it was crucial to advise the public that we are looking at our current regulations to strengthen them and to identify a task force that will help to ensure that this does not happen again."

The task force will review existing legislation, including provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act, to determine if any amendments or improvements are necessary to oversee captive exotic animals within the province. This is in response to the motion passed unanimously by the legislative assembly calling for the task force to be struck following the tragic death of two young boys, Noah and Connor Barthe, in Campbellton, who were killed by an African python.

Dougan is a former president of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums and an advisor to its board of directors. He is also the co-founder of the volunteer fundraising group, Friends of the Magnetic Hill Zoo. Dougan joined the zoo in 1989 and has an extensive experience in zookeeping and zoo administration gained with other accredited institutions.

Other members of the task force include:

• Hilary Howes, executive director of the New Brunswick SPCA;
• Nelson Poirier, retired veterinarian from Moncton with 35 years experience;
• Mike Sullivan, director of the Fish and Wildlife division, Department of Natural Resources;
• Ken Bryenton, policy advisor, Department of Environment and Local Government; and
• Mike Johnston, executive director of Inspection and Enforcement, Department of Public Safety.

The task force's mandate will be to review existing provincial legislation, regulations, programs and policies that pertain to the import, export, possession and trade of live exotic animals in New Brunswick; identify and strengthen regulations related to human health, public safety and animal welfare; and make specific recommendations to government as to how management and control of exotic animals could be modified to ensure the highest regard for public health and safety as well as the care of the animals.