To the Ministry of Natural…

To the Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario and other members/Ministers of the Ontario government:

Thank you for soliciting public comments about the proposed reduction of distance from rights of way and trails in placing baits for black bears, so that hunters can more easily shoot them.

Like all of the other proposals and bills enacted by the current government as regards wildlife, the environment and anything connected with hunting and fishing, this proposed change is clearly in the interests of so-called "sportsmen," and those who collect revenue from licensing them or benefit from the removal of wildlife from the landscape, and NOT in the interests of the public at large, including those who enjoy the outdoors. And in particular, it is NOT in the interest of animals, like black bears, who attempt to survive in a shrinking habitat and the continued encroachment of human development of all kinds.

This proposal to make it easier to shoot baited bears is an incredibly bad idea, which at best will gratify hunters and at worst will further bring bears into too-close contact with areas of human habitation--thereby providing the ministry with another reason to control their populations by encouraging more hunting and extending the hunting season.

An earlier, far more enlightened MNR, headed by John Snobolen in the Mike Harris Conservative Government of the early 2000s, canceled the spring bear hunt--a decision both intelligent, humane and environmentally-minded. It would be great if the succeeding Conservative government of Doug Ford could follow that example, instead of yielding to pressure from developers, in the matter of of "pay-to-slay" as regards endangered animal species, and pressure from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in the matter of opening up Ontario for "business" with regards to increasing opportunities to kill more species and larger numbers of each species, including those like cormorants which are inedible by humans and far less of a threat to fish stocks than advertised.

In a time of increasing and potential fatal environmental damage and decline, any attempts you can make to work to preserve habitat and to treat animal species as having intrinsic value unconnected to killing them and destroying their habitat would be appreciated, by the majority of Ontarians who realize we've reached the end of the line in terms of wrecking the planet for the selfish interests of a few.

Thank you for your kind attention.