The remarks by Minister of Natural Resources, John Snobelen, came yesterday during an impassioned address to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ 71st Annual Wildlife Conference in Niagara Falls.

Snobelen described the fish and game authority as “the next step, the next evolution” in the management of the province’s natural resources. The Minister indicated the new authority would have real decision-making powers and control over how and where financial resources are spent.

The idea of a fish and game authority, or commission, is not new, but one that has been presented by the O.F.A.H. to current government, based on a review of similar programs in the United States.

“We fully support the concept of a fish and game commission,” said O.F.A.H. Executive Vice President, Rick Morgan. “However, it can’t just be any old commission. This must be a commission consisting of anglers and hunters representing the interests of anglers and hunters. Afterall, it’s the hunters and anglers who pay the bills through their licence and permit fees,” Morgan said.

“The O.F.A.H. has reviewed the structure and effectiveness of game commissions set up in other North American jurisdictions. In some areas, the commissions have worked well to benefit both natural resources and the stakeholders.  In other areas, the experience has been less than satisfactory,” Morgan added.

In his speech to the O.F.A.H. Conference, Snobelen said his Ministry is now working to lay out the steps leading to the creation of a fish and game authority.

“We want to make sure that what we want is doable, and we want to move on this (initiative) as quickly as possible,” Snobelen said.

When the Provincial Progressive Conservatives came to power in Ontario four years ago, they almost immediately created a Fish and Game Advisory Board. The Board, which advises the Ministry on fish and wildlife related issues does not carry any decision making power, but its recommendations are respected by the Minister and the M.N.R. staff.

For more information on the O.F.A.H. Conference, please contact O.F.A.H. Communications Specialist, Mark Holmes, at (705) 748-6324, fax to (705) 748-9577, or e-mail ofah@ofah.org