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The hunting of grizzly bears for trophies and food is banned effective immediately across B.C., the NDP government announced Monday in a major policy shift.

“Protecting this iconic species is simply the right thing to do,” Minister of Environment George Heyman told a news conference in Vancouver.

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Pressured to end the trophy hunt during the election campaign, the government last August announced it would ban all hunting of grizzlies in the Great Bear Rainforest but still allow food-only hunts elsewhere in B.C.

The government suggested it might require food hunters to turn in the heads, paws and hides of grizzlies to ensure they weren’t being hunted as trophies.

But the government now says it has concluded that a total ban on food and trophy hunting is the way to go. About 78 per cent of that 4,180 emails the government received on the issue opposed a continued food hunt.

Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Doug Donaldson said that as a result of consultations this past fall, “We have listened to what British Columbians have to say on this issue and it is abundantly clear that the grizzly hunt is not in line with their values.”