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May 5, 1998
Mr. Phil Morlock Dear Mr. Morlock: Thank you for your letter of January 15, 1998, regarding the spring bear hunt. I appreciate you sharing with me the board’s views and recommendations on this matter and apologize for the lengthy delay in responding. As you know, the mandate of the ministry is to ensure the conservation of wildlife populations. I can assure you that the position of the Ontario government on the spring bear hunt has not changed. From a conservation perspective, neither the open spring season or the use of bait dogs in bear hunting pose a threat to current populations. The government recognizes the significance of the bear hunt to the ministry’s Fish and Wildlife Special Purpose Account as well as the economy of Ontario. The issues now being raised about bear hunting are not about conservation, rather they focus on differing societal values. I believe the increased attention focused on ethics in hunting, especially bear hunting, is not likely to abate. Further, it is my view that Ontario’s hunting community has a responsibility to consider resolutions to this matter and should be given the opportunity to do so. As a result, the ministry will not be conducting a review of the matter at this time. I trust that this information is of assistance. Again, thank you for writing. Sincerely,
Hon. John C. Snobelen
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Wellll…. Nice to Know… BUT… To What was this letter a response? - Read on Below…
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Fish & Wildlife Advisory Board
January 15, 1998
Dear Mr. Snobelen, Re: Formal Recommendations - Spring Bear Hunt Our Board met in Toronto yesterday and discussed the recent press reports and subsequent conversations with your staff concerning your announcement that there will be another review of the “ethics of spring bear hunting”. The press reports imply a connection of some sort to the recent passage of Bill 139 (The Game & Fish Act) and the anti-hunting agenda put forward by the World Wildlife Fund during the public consultation phase for this bill. We were disappointed that we first learned of this change in government direction from the media rather than from you or your staff. Our working relationship with Chris Hodgson and his staff was always inclusive, open and forthright. We feel strongly that we should have been included, especially considering the potential for negative revenue impacts on the MNR Fish & Wildlife Branch Special Purpose Account. A substantial amount of SPA Revenue is derived from the spring bear hunt. The members of our Board are of course very familiar with the origins of this particular version of the anti-hunting /fishing agenda. We are also keenly aware of the tactical strategy being employed by the well financed (but tax exempt) proponents led by the Trojan Horse of the anti-hunting movement - the World Wildlife Fund. We are informed by John Weir that this same agenda has also recently been brought forward to you by members of your Caucus Natural Resource Committee. John and Peter Hickey both explained that it is your intention that the Caucus Committee review the “question” of whether there is a problem with the ethics of spring bear hunting. Simply stated, the question itself is illegitimate in that it is in fact an agenda - not an honest and fair question. And the truth is his agenda actually has far more to do with ending all types of hunting (and fishing) than it does with bears. Were the Caucus Committee to review this under the auspices of “ethics”, it would lend credibility to an illegitimate question and imply an ethical problem where none exists. This issue was clearly addressed head on by Minister Hodgson and Premier Harris in 1996. They both recognized the thin edge of the wedge which was cloaked in the guise of a “question of ethics”. And they recognized as do we, the pretense of using animal rights to interfere with the rights of other people who enjoy the outdoor heritage sports of fishing and hunting. Under present MNR management and enforcement we do not feel there is an ethical problem with any type of legal hunting that is presently permitted for any game species in the Province of Ontario.
In 1996 Minister Hodgson and Premier Harris put forward the Ontario government position in support of the continuation of spring bear hunting. We strongly support and endorse their direction. We recommend that you ensure that this commitment be retained as formal MNR policy. The “question” around the ethics of spring bear hunting was fully explored and directly addressed by Minister Hodgson in 1996 on behalf of the government of Ontario. We feel any additional discussion is redundant and unnecessary. We recommend that there be no additional review. Yours truly, Phil Morlock, Chair
cc: Hon. Chris Hodgson |
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