The Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act will give hunters and anglers a legal "right" to hunt in Ontario.
The government has claimed that sport hunting is immensely popular amongst the citizens of Ontario, providing $3.5 billion dollars to the economy. The Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act will give hunters and anglers a legal "right" to hunt in Ontario.
According to a federal survey, only 3.5% of citizens in Ontario participate in hunting activities. The majority of nature users participate in non-violent and non-ecologically devastating activities such as hiking, canoeing, or backpacking. The voices of these nature users are drowned out by the shouts of organized lobbying groups suck as the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
The Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act creates a "Fish and Wildlife Commission" which will relieve the Ministry of Natural Resources of its primary role of protecting Ontario's public land and wildlife. The commission, which consists primarily of hunters and anglers, will be a conflict of interest and will look in the direction of profit rather than conservation. It has never been a good idea to leave the fox to guard the hen house.
We, the undersigned, are against the Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act. The resources of Ontario belong to the people of Ontario and the rest of Canada. Therefore, its management should be the sole responsibility of its government.
