From my experience the…

From my experience the majority of the issue with invasive species is a extreme lack of prevention on the introduction of these plants and animals at the source. Example, if MNRF had any input into the wild pig scenario at the onset and not allowed the creation of these game farms there wouldn’t have been the so called escapes or intentional release of them into the wild when the market fell out. Even if MNRF had a say in it, OMAFRA trumped them using the economic card and allowed it. This goes with the potential for CWD being introduced via contaminated elk and other deer on game farms endorsed by OMAFRA. This was a known factor in the late 80’s. Now the people and the MNRF are stuck with an environmental catastrophe. There has to be a way to prevent it at the source.

Why are backyard fish ponds allowed to be established on flood plains or anywhere? I’ve seen it where these exotics have been introduced because of floods and it’s the same for the plants. Why did OMAFRA and the federal government have a free hand in allowing the pet trade and green houses into allowing these things to, be introduced, to be purchased, to be used for so called aesthetic beauty. Purple loosestrife started as an ornamental. Now seas of purple fields are the norm. Why do people need Piranha as a pet? Now we are finding them in municipal ponds and lakes! There was an article in the Toronto Star in the past 2 years showing a so called snapping turtle in a city pond in Toronto and it was a Red Eared Slider! A Conservation Authority couldn’t even identify the species!

Prevention is not new science. A lot of these introduction have been PREVENTABLE from the start. There has been a systemic loss of checks and balances for decades and mostly because of economic bullying by proponents in government and private industry AND the incidental introduction via commerce like the dumping of ballast and improper container sterilization etc.

THEN there’s the blame game “it’s not our jurisdiction”, “we don’t have the capacity.”
Yes these issues but they are completely preventable. Now there’s a need to turn the focus upon the next unsuspecting vector, the recreationalist. Is it really a boater that moves the problem around or was it really the original proponents that started it in the first place. This is what the average Jack or Jill sees.

You have to have standing, currency, and credibility and sometimes I think it’s gone.

Oh I know in your mind you’ll huff and puff, yes we do have standing, but you’ve been under funded for decades staff have been slashed, sister agencies have no respect for you and honestly the proof is before us. The OFAH has more clout than MNRF or so it seems. What does MOE have to do with Parks, now there’s a brilliant move.

If there are concerns with the transportation of baitfish, get rid of baitfish. Manitoba has had no live baitfish for decades, the same with Quebec. If some of these animals have been introduced via the baitfish industry then obviously the industry has no respect for the environment! Wasn’t there an issue with the introduction of a deadly fish virus and it’s spread via baitfish?

If there are issues with ornamentals ban them, the same for exotic non-indigenous insects, fish, snakes mammals if it doesn’t belong here stop the sale, restrict ownership and reduce availability. Start at the source where you can and move forward.

There was a time when education was a stalwart of the L&F, MNR and now MNRF but it has disappeared there is little or no capacity. Start with education of government leaders, agencies, schools, the general public and with this hand in hand have an effective law enforcement plan.