Recently, MPP Robert Bailey (Sarnia-Lambton) introduced Bill 205, a proposal that would allow anyone to shoot as many cormorants as they want, any time of year. Already, crows and starlings have no protection in Ontario. The bill comes from pressure by anglers who claim the cormorants eat too many fish; a claim that has been disputed. The other claim is that the bird's droppings destroy trees, a bizarre idea, considering that birds poop in trees all the time. Please ask that Ontario strengthens, not removes, cormorant protection.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/06/20/cormorants-face-vigilante-justice-in-new-ontario-bill-walkom.html
Dear Premier Kathleen Wynne,
Ontario is a province with a variety of wildlife. One species, the double crested cormorant, has made a remarkable comeback after the banning of DDT. While this should be celebrated, Bill 205 would remove all protection on these birds, due to the misconception that they eat too many fish and destroy trees. Cormorants are a native species that has evolved with the rest of Ontario's environment. Killing the birds is not only cruel, but ineffective, since more birds will take the place of the deceased. Instead of destroying these birds, fund non hunting related programs that protect and educate people about Ontario wildlife.
