The Ford government's…

The Ford government's proposed reduction to the minimum distance for placing bear bait should not be allowed. Currently, the distance for baiting black bears from a public roadway or public trail is 200 metres. It should remain at 200 metres.

By reducing the distance to 30 metres, sport hunters, in effect, can shoot black bears from the road while sitting in their trucks. This is a repugnant notion, when all across our province wildlife is struggling to survive. This proposal clearly appeases the 'slob hunters' - those hunters who lack skill and tend to be thrill hunters, killing for fun not sport.

This reduction is also poses a serious threat to humans. It is very dangerous for any person walking on a trail or driving on a public road. It places innocent outdoor users in the path of a bullet and/or keeps outdoor enthusiasts inside for the duration of the black bear hunting season, which runs from May to June and then again from August to December.

Worse, the Ford government has not provided any rationale for this proposal. This reduction would encourage the worst sort of hunter to proliferate in Ontario and would also encourage shooting along a public roadway or trail.