Regulations Amending the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations (Miscellaneous Program): SOR/2025-99
Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 159, Number 7
Registration
SOR/2025-99 March 12, 2025
MIGRATORY BIRDS CONVENTION ACT, 1994
P.C. 2025-402 March 12, 2025
Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations (Miscellaneous Program) under subsection 12(1)footnote a of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 footnote b.
Regulations Amending the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations (Miscellaneous Program)
Amendments
1 The long title of the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations footnote 1 is replaced by the following:
Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations
2 Section 1 of the Regulations and the heading before it are repealed.
3 Paragraph 11(d) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:
- (d) any person who is the holder of, or eligible for, a general hunting licence referred to in the Wildlife Act, S.N.W.T. 2013, c. 30, as that Act is amended from time to time, may carry a firearm within any migratory bird sanctuary lying north of the 60th parallel of north latitude for the purpose of taking fur-bearing animals, big game or sea mammals in accordance with that licence;
4 Item 1 of Part X of the schedule to the Regulations is repealed.
5 Item 5 of Part X of the schedule to the Regulations is repealed.
6 Items 8 to 10 of Part X of the schedule to the Regulations are repealed.
7 Items 12 to 15 of Part X of the schedule to the Regulations are repealed.
8 The heading of Part XI of the schedule to the Regulations is replaced by the following:
Quebec and Nunavut
9 The heading of Part XII of the schedule to the Regulations is replaced by the following:
Ontario and Nunavut
10 The schedule to the Regulations is amended by adding the following after Part XII:
PART XIII
Nunavut
1 Akimiski Island Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, all that parcel of land and land covered by water, crossed by the parallel of latitude 53°N, situated in James Bay, and comprising that part of Akimiski Island lying to the east of the meridian 81°30′W, together with the foreshore, islands, shoals or rocks and the waters of James Bay lying within five miles of the line of ordinary high water mark of Akimiski Island and to the east of that meridian.
2 Bylot Island Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, the whole of Bylot Island and all waters and islands or parts of islands within two miles of the ordinary high water mark of Bylot Island.
3 Isulijarniq Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, all that portion of Baffin Island, more particularly described as follows:
- COMMENCING at an astronomical observation monument placed on the brink of a cliff and located at approximate latitude 65°31′ and approximate longitude 73°48′; THENCE, southerly and easterly along that brink of a cliff to a point at latitude 65°19′ and approximate longitude 73°02′; THENCE, due east to longitude 73°; THENCE, due north to latitude 66°10′; THENCE, due east to longitude 72°40′; THENCE, due north to the middle thread of the Koukdjuak River; THENCE, westerly along that middle thread to longitude 73°; THENCE on an azimuth of 315° to a point on a line on the seaward side of, conforming to the sinuosities of and five miles distant from the mean high water mark of Foxe Basin; THENCE, southwesterly, southeasterly and southwesterly along that mark to the meridian passing through the point of commencement; THENCE, southerly along that meridian to the point of commencement; that portion containing by admeasurement 3,150 square miles, approximately.
All being described with reference to the latest appropriate map sheets of the National Topographic Series on a scale of eight miles to one inch, available on January 4, 1957.
4 Qaqsauqtuuq Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Kivalliq Region, all those portions of Southampton Island and the waters of Hudson Bay more particularly described as follows:
- COMMENCING at the centre of the reference monument on Gore Point, that monument being a 15 foot triangular wood pyramid; THENCE, northwesterly in a straight line to the most southerly extremity of a small unnamed island at latitude 64°08′ and longitude 81°34′30″; THENCE, due west to longitude 82°30′; THENCE, due south to latitude 64°04′; THENCE, southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 63°50′ and longitude 82°10′; THENCE, northeasterly in a straight line to the point of commencement, those portions containing together 450 square miles, approximately.
All being described with reference to the latest appropriate map sheets of the National Topographic Series on a scale of eight miles to one inch, available on March 2, 1959.
5 Ikkattuaq Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Kivalliq Region, all those portions of Southampton Island and the waters of Hudson Bay more particularly described as follows:
- COMMENCING at a point at the mean low water mark of Southampton Island at Manico Point on a due east-west line passing through the most westerly extremity of Manico Point; THENCE, due east to longitude 85°30′; THENCE, due north to latitude 64°; THENCE, due west to longitude 86°; THENCE, due south to latitude 63°50′; THENCE, due west to longitude 86°20′; THENCE, due south to the mean low water mark of Southampton Island; THENCE, easterly and southerly along the last-described water mark to the point of commencement; those portions containing together 575 square miles, approximately.
All being described with reference to the latest appropriate map sheet of the National Topographic Series on a scale of eight miles to one inch, available on March 2, 1959.
6 Kuugaarjuk Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Kivalliq Region and the foreshore of Hudson Bay, in the vicinity of the hamlet of Arviat, the whole of Kuugaarjuk Bird Sanctuary, formerly known as McConnell River Bird Sanctuary, according to an explanatory plan prepared in the office of the Surveyor General of Canada Lands and bearing record number 50228 in the Canada Lands Surveys Records at Ottawa, the bearings of that plan being referred to the meridian 94°W; that sanctuary containing about 127 square miles.
7 Akpaqarvik Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, all that parcel more particularly described as follows:
The whole of Prince Leopold Island being designated in accordance with the Gazetteer of Canada for Northwest Territories, Ottawa, 1980, and shown on combined National Topographic Series map 58E/3, 58E/2, 58D/15 and part of 58D/14 Prince Leopold Island, produced at a scale of 1:50,000 by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources at Ottawa; all the waters within five kilometres of the ordinary high water mark of Prince Leopold Island; and the foreshore of Prince Leopold Island and any rocks and islets above the ordinary low water mark of those waters; that parcel containing about 30,305 ha (6,360 ha of land area; 23,945 ha of water area).
8 Ahiak Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Kitikmeot Region and the waters of Queen Maud Gulf, the whole of Ahiak Bird Sanctuary more particularly described as follows:
- COMMENCING at a point in the easterly shore of McLoughlin Bay at latitude 69°50′; THENCE, easterly along the parallel of latitude 67°50′ to the westerly shore of Sherman Inlet; THENCE, southeasterly in a straight line to the northernmost point in the shore of the promontory east of the mouth of the Kaleet River at latitude 67°41′ and longitude 97°09′; THENCE, southerly along the easterly bank of the Kaleet River and its widenings to latitude 66°20′; THENCE, westerly along the parallel of latitude 66°20′ to the westerly bank of the Kuunajuk River; THENCE, northerly along the westerly bank of the Kuunajuk River and the westerly bank of the tributary that flows into the Kuunajuk River at latitude 66°48′30″ and longitude 104°38′ to longitude 105°30′; THENCE, due north to the northwesterly shore of Labyrinth Bay; THENCE, northerly and easterly along the shore of Labyrinth Bay to the southeasternmost point in the shore of Cape Roxborough; THENCE, southeasterly in a straight line to the northernmost point in the shore of Whitebear Point; THENCE, southeasterly in a straight line to the point of commencement.
All being described with reference to map sheets 66 N.W. and 66 N.E. dated 1953, 76 N.W. and 76 N.E. dated 1954 and 77 S.W. and 77 S.E. dated 1958 of the National Topographic Series, on a scale of eight miles to one inch and with reference to map sheet 67 S.W. and 67 S.E. dated 1958 of that series on a scale of 1:500,000; that sanctuary containing about 24,240 square miles.
9 Naujavaat Bird Sanctuary
In Nunavut, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, the whole of Seymour Island and all waters and islands or parts of islands within two miles of the ordinary high water mark of Seymour Island.
Coming into Force
11 These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.
REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT
(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)
Issues
Under section 6.7 of the 2016 to 2023 Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement for National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the Nunavut Settlement Area (IIBA), Canada committed to adopting Inuktitut names for Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBS) in the Nunavut Settlement Area, necessitating administrative amendments to the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations (the Regulations).
Objective
The objective of the Regulations Amending the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations (Miscellaneous Program) (the amendments) is to fulfil the Government of Canada’s obligations under the IIBA with regard to renaming seven MBS in the Nunavut Settlement Area with Inuktitut names.
Description and rationale
Canada and the United States share a commitment to work together to conserve migratory birds in North America. In 1916, the United Kingdom, on behalf of Canada, and the United States signed the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in the United States and Canada, which was amended in 1995 by the Parksville Protocol. Canada implements those agreements via the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (the MBCA). The objective of the Migratory Birds Convention and the MBCA is to conserve and protect migratory birds. This objective is achieved in part through the Regulations under the MBCA, which prescribe prohibitions regarding hunting and possessing migratory birds, as well as prohibitions against activities that are harmful to migratory birds or the eggs, nests or habitat of migratory birds in prescribed MBS.
In the Nunavut Settlement Area, under the IIBA, MBS are co-managed with Inuit from communities adjacent to the protected areas and the Government of Canada. The IIBA ensures that Inuit fully benefit and fully participate in economic and other opportunities arising from the establishment and management of the MBS. The opportunities for Inuit provided by this IIBA should build capacity and encourage self-reliance and the cultural and socio-economic well-being of Inuit.
In accordance with section 6.7 of the 2016-2023 IIBA, the Department of the Environment (the Department) has renamed seven MBS in the Nunavut Settlement Area with Inuktitut names identified by the Area Co-Management Committee (ACMC) responsible for each of the MBS:
- Isulijarniq (former name: Dewey Soper) — Isulijarniq is the Inuktitut name for the only mountain that is visible when travelling on land into the MBS. Letters were sent in 2020 proposing a different spelling (Isulijaqniq). In 2024, the current spelling was approved by residents of Kinngait, as well as the former chair of the ACMC.
- Qaqsauqtuuq (former name: East Bay) —Qaqsauqtuuq is the placename already used by the local Inuit community for the area. The ACMC made this decision in May 2015, recognizing that the community would not have an issue with changing the name to one that was already being used. Follow-up letters were sent by the ACMC to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Kivalliq Inuit Association, and the Department.
- Ikkattuaq (former name: Harry Gibbons) —Ikkattuaq is the placename already used by the local Inuit community for the area. The ACMC made this decision in May 2015, recognizing that the community would not have an issue with changing the name to one that was already being used. Follow-up letters were sent by the ACMC to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Kivalliq Inuit Association, and the Department.
- Kuugaarjuk (former name: McConnell River) — Kuugaarjuk is the Inuktitut name for a river that runs through the MBS. Letters were sent by the ACMC to the hamlet of Arviat and to Hunter and Trapper Organizations in 2020. The name was discussed again at the ACMC meeting in April 2024.
- Akpaqarvik (former name: Prince Leopold Island) — Akpaqarvik means “where the murres belong” in Inuktitut. To select a name, an open house was held with the Community of Resolute Bay in November 2023. Follow-up letters were sent by the ACMC to Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Nunavut Planning Commission, Inuit Heritage Trust, the hamlet of Resolute Bay, and Hunters and Trappers Organizations in fall 2023 and early 2024.
- Ahiak (former name: Queen Maud Gulf) — Ahiak means “other side” in Inuktitut. The Ahiak ACMC decided in January 2012 that the MBS should have the same name as the ACMC.
- Naujavaat (former name: Seymour Island) —Naujavaat, which means “ivory gulls” in Inuktitut, was chosen by Sulukvaut ACMC. Follow-up letters were sent by the ACMC to Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Nunavut Planning Commission, Inuit Heritage Trust, the hamlet of Resolute Bay, and Hunters and Trappers Organizations in fall 2023 and early 2024.
Renaming the MBS with Inuktitut names contributes to the Government of Canada’s obligations under the IIBA and helps demonstrate the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation.
In addition, the Schedule to the Regulations has not been amended since Nunavut became a territory. To ensure the Regulations remain geographically accurate, the amendments also create a new Part XIII to the Schedule for MBS formerly located in the Northwest Territories and now located in Nunavut. References to the Northwest Territories that are no longer accurate have been replaced with Nunavut, and references to outdated district and community names from the former Northwest Territories have been replaced with the region and community names that are currently in use in Nunavut.
Lastly, regulations are no longer drafted with a long and short title, therefore the long title of the Regulations has been replaced by “Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations” and Section 1 of the Regulations and the heading above it have been repealed.
One-for-one rule and small business lens
The one for one rule does not apply as there is no incremental change in administrative burden on business and no regulatory titles are repealed or introduced.
Analysis under the small business lens concluded that the proposed regulation will not impact Canadian small businesses.
Contact
Caroline Ladanowski
Director
Wildlife Management and Regulatory Affairs Division
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, 15th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Email: ReglementsFaune-WildlifeRegulations@ec.gc.ca